A Fazenda Pau d’Alho de Campinas: as cadernetas como registros da contabilidade dos “colonos” (1927-1931)

Abstract

This work investigates the use of passbooks as a way to control the accounts of the “farm laborers”. This use was regulated by law 1,299 of 27 December 1911, in order to defend the workers´ interests. It came about through international pressures from European countries (notably Italy and Spain) who were demanding better living conditions for their migrant workers. The debits and credits of the workers were recorded in the public record offices and were transformed into a public document recognized by the Notary. Through research conducted at the in Centro de Memória da UNICAMP (CMU), we intend to discuss the working conditions and remuneration system of the “workers” from Pau d’Alho plantation Farm, Campinas, between 1927 and 1931. Highlighting the arrangements in the context of the great economic crisis, we hope to promote the debate with the existing literature on the subject.