From the War Arsenal to a wider labour world: a study focused on the Society for Charity Funds (1872-1930)

Abstract

The Society for Charity Funds of the War Arsenal of Bahia was founded on 8 May 1872 as a mutual aid association exclusive to the War Arsenal workers. After some struggle it gradually became accessible for workers of any occupation, gender and nationality. This research traces the trajectory of this association since its foundation in 1872 until 1930, trying to understand what this mutual aid association represented for its own members during this period. This article presents the social composition of the association and the network of relations between its members and the many other mutual aid organizations members, especially the significant participation of its members on boards of directors of the various labor societies in Salvador.

Keywords

• society for charity funds
• mutualism
• labor association
• war arsenal of bahia