The Mário Soares and Maria Barroso Foundation is a non-profit private institution of public interest, created in 1991.

The mission of the Foundation is to promote a civic and democratic culture inspired by the life and legacy of Mário Soares and Maria Barroso, and to preserve and divulge the historical memory and cultural heritage of Contemporary Portugal.

The Foundation’s activity takes place at the cultural, humanitarian, social, scientific and educational levels, namely organizing and making available, in open access, its cultural heritage (Archive, Library, Casa Comum and Casa-Museu João Soares / João Soares House-Museum), putting together scientific and cultural events, providing training and debate programs, cooperating with Portuguese-speaking countries and encouraging the creation and dissemination of scientific-based knowledge, particularly when it concerns the achievements of Mário Soares and Maria Barroso.

The Foundation is home to one of the most extensive and relevant Portuguese political archives of the 20th century, comprising personal and political documentation that belonged to both Mário Soares and Maria Barroso, as well as several other collections essential for the better knowledge of the History of Portugal, Europe and the World, covering topics such as republicanism, colonialism, anti-colonialism, opposition and resistance to the dictatorship, democratic transition, building European, biology, oceans, mathematics, literature and fine arts.