Para a análise dos significados de proteção a meninas pobres da Bahia do século XIX recorreu-se a documentos de orfanatos e varas de órfãos. Os conteúdos foram organizados nas categorias formas de abandono e práticas educacionais e disciplinares. Os resultados indicaram que a proteção significava abrigar as meninas, alimentá-las e treiná-las em algumas habilidades. Não havia preocupação com a superação da condição social pré-institucional. Para as famílias, a institucionalização significava proteção. O Estado limitava-se a encaminhá-las para instituições e a contribuir com subvenções. A proteção a meninas representava o cumprimento de regras morais vigentes e a delimitação do lugar da mulher. A criança era um vir-a-ser. For an analysis of the means of protection offered to poor girls in 19th-century Bahia, we have examined documents of orphanage institutions and judges of orphans. The contents were organized into these categories: forms of abandonment, educational and discipline practices. The results indicate the protection offered to the girls meant: shelter, nourishment, and instruction in some abilities. There was no concern to a long-term amelioration of the pre-orphanage socioeconomic status. For the families, the orphanage represented protection. The role of the State was limited; it consisted on directing the girls to the orphanages and on contributing with subsidies. The means of protection were effected in order to maintain certain standards of morality of the period and the delimitation of a socially-acceptable environment for women. The child was understood as "future"