The first nucleus of argument of this third issue of Memorandum is the theme of book as a vehicle of memory and document of history through the ages. As a matter of fact, the article Dante, Borges and book by Biagio D´Angelo discusses book as an indispensable written document for the endurance of historical and collective memory. It is a living and current object, a fragment of the world with its own life, and its sap is memory itself. This discussion is realized in broad span of time as it links Dante to Borges.

Through a historiographical perspective, to the same theme is dedicated the article The presence of nineteenth-century psychology in titles belonging to the Public Library of the State of Bahia: some examples, by Nádia Maria Dourado Rocha. It is based on a research developed in the Department of Rare and Valuable Works of the Public Library of the State of Bahia, Brazil. Among its 60.000 titles, 1.500 deal with questions of psychological order and were originally published, between 1826 and 1898, in seven countries (Germany, Brazil, Denmark, United States, France, England and Russia). The focus is on the function and importance of the book as a transmitter of psychological knowledge, in nineteenth-century Brazil.

Currently we assist the complementation of the written word by the resources of the visual images. The review Enrichment of words by visual images: some recent developments by Josef Brožek is dedicated to these innovations.

The second nucleus of argument of the present issue of Memorandum is the theme of identities which, based on strong relationships of filiation, are able to define the field of action and the global perspective of life of individuals. This theme is analyzed in distinct historical moments and with various research methodologies of historical and collective memory. The article Investigation of the request to the overseas mission on the litteræ Indipetæ: psychological conditions to the action in the writings of young Jesuits of the sixteenth century, by Laura Vilela e Souza and Marina Massimi, presents the psychological and spiritual dynamics of decision described in the litterae Indipetae, letters written during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries (kept in the Archives of the General Curia of the Company of Jesus in Rome) by young Jesuits asking the General priest if they could be sent to the missions overseas. The article Fraternities of black persons: construction of the identity of the elderly members in Minas Gerais, by Eneida Pereira dos Santos and Miguel Mahfoud, analyzes, through a phenomenological approach, life history accounts of old black persons, inhabitants of Ouro Preto, São João del Rei and Serro, in Minas Gerais, Brazil. It investigates the meaning given to the fraternities of black persons by members filiated for a long time and its consequences for the elaboration of their identity.

The third nucleus of argument of this issue of Memorandum is of a philosophical nature. The article Negative theology, mystics, phenomenological hyletics: apropos of Edith Stein, by Angela Ales Bello, proposes an approach towards the thought of Edith Stein, a contemporary phenomenological philosopher who, through a constant dialogue with philosophical anthropology, made a relevant contribution towards the foundations of psychology as a human science.

The publication of this article, in Portuguese, wishes to contribute for the diffusion of the ideas of this philosopher in Brazil as well as to mark the occurrence of the course offered during the month of july of 2002 at the Department of Psychology of the Federal University of Minas Gerais, ministered by Professor Angela Ales Bello, teacher at the Lateran University of Rome and an specialist in this area.

The third and last part of the publication of the Introductory course to historiography of psychology: notes for a brief course given by Josef Brožek in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, in 1996, is an autobiographical account of the researcher, and includes photos and the final statement of the professor. The material documents the greatness of this man and scientist. Its publication aims at a real contribution towards the preservation of the memory of Josef Brožek, who marked in a meaningful way the consolidation of the history of psychology in Brazil, specially among young students of psychology.

To celebrate the first anniversary of Memorandum, we would like to share the data regarding the number and provenance of the accesses to the site during this period.

The electronic review Memorandum, on its first birthday, had been accessed more than eleven thousand times (6.500 of which were second-time accesses).

We received readers from all over the world: South America 42%, Europe 2%, North America 2%, unknown origin 53%. We received readers also from Australia and the Pacific, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Central America and the region of the former Russia. According to the countries, the accesses were from: Brazil 41%, Portugal 1%, Mexico 1%, unknown origin 55%. Other countries that had relevant number of accesses were: Italy, United States, Peru and United Kingdom.

Evaluating these data from the perspective of the original goals set by this review, we may affirm: It’s a good beginning and the challenge goes on!