The history of Modena State archive
Modena State Archive is situated in the Town Hall, built at the end of the 18th century by the Dominicans in order to provide their convent with a new wing. With the Napoleonic suppression of the Dominican Order, the building became the seat of the Panaro Department Prefecture. Then it was named “Palazzo Governativo” (Governement Palace) during the Austrians and the Este occupation and in 1849 it hosted a Deposit General Archive. Consequently, its main function dramatically changed. After Italy’s Unification, the building became the seat of the Prefecture and in 1862 it started to host the Este Secret Archive, previously kept in the Duchy Palace. This one became the seat of the Military Academy. In 1872 the palace along Corso Cavour took the definitive name of State archives and in 1912 with the dislocation of the public offices, the building was adapted to fulfil its new function of document storage site. Today, the Archive contains a shelf system about 30km long with 280.000 pieces and 17.000 scrolls dating back to a period going from the 8th to the 19th century.
pergamene, coprendo un arco cronologico che va dall’VIII al XIX secolo.
The ‘’musical’’ funds of the Modena State Archive
The Archive on subjects fund contains documents from various sections of the Archive and ranges them according to the different subjects. An important section is dedicated to “Music” and “Musicians”. This “music” section is composed of six cases. The first one (subdivided in 1/A and 1/B) is about “composers”, “writers”, “chapel masters” and “musicians” while the second one is dedicated to “storytellers and players” and both are organized in alphabetical order. The third case collects documents about the “Duchy Chapel” and the “Musical instruments”. Finally, the forth one includes a wide range of documents like compositions, printed material, treaties and an anthology.
The Este always promoted music and several music themes can be found in some funds of the Este Secret Archive. The Ambassadors fund contains a series of news about musicians and storytellers. Constantly searching for new companies and players, the Este agents had to collect information and procure employment. Francesco Gualenghi witnessed this typical Este trend in his letters from Rome: his dispatch proves that Duke Francesco I was deeply interested in the Urbe’s musical scene.