Discussions and controversies in the shaping of the Corrientes historiographic field in the late nineteenth century

Abstract

In the second half of the nineteenth century began the conformation of a historiographical space in Corrientes driven by several factors that contributed to its delineation, like the interest of the state in reaffirm its rights on the territories that had belonged to the old missions and to vindicate the place that its elite leadership saw should occupy in institutional order created by the Constitution of 1853.

Both purposes also involved a growing interest in reinforcing the Correntina identity opposite to a process of building a national identity, which began to emerge in the eighties. In this context arise notable figures such as Ramon Contreras and Manuel Florencio Mantilla, who will be drawn to the historical studies to satisfy these demands.

From their works were established links with historians and institutions of Buenos Aires and developed debates and controversies through the press, which made it possible to be defining a historiographical space with its authorities and work rules.