ASC Central Salesian Archive

Frequently asked questions about the Central Salesian Archive (ASC). Many answers link to the site’s in-depth pages.

What kind of activity is the Archive currently oriented to?

The ASC’s activity is oriented to protecting the significant Salesian documentary and audiovisual heritage, fostering the conditions for its preservation, and to enhancing it as historical memory, providing research tools for scholars and researchers. The staff also supports the requests of the Rector Major and the General Secretariat, and gradually proceeds to preserve, restore, catalogue, acquire and digitise the analogue documentation.

What is the ASC’s periodisation?

The ASC essentially preserves documentation later than 1815 (Don Bosco’s birth); 1859 is the year of the foundation of the Salesian Society. For the full framework of dates and sources see Historical notes.

Who looks after the ASC’s documentation, and who have the people in charge been over time?

The ASC is headed by the Secretary of the General Council, on whom the Director of the Archive depends. The list of secretaries general and directors who have succeeded one another is in Historical notes.

How can the ASC be consulted?

You must make a request to the Director with the appropriate form, send it by email (archivio@sdb.org), await a reply and arrange with the staff. Details, form and Regulations in Consultation.

How many people make up the working group?

Besides the Secretary General (who mainly deals with the current archive), two Salesians and two lay staff. Contacts in Information.

Does the ASC follow a set of Regulations?

Yes. In 1985 the Rector Major Fr Egidio Viganò promulgated the ASC Regulations (39 articles), governing management, administration, archivists, consultation and organisation (cf. ACG no. 314, 1985). See Consultation.

How do you search the catalogue?

You can do a simple search by typing key words, or an advanced search on specific fields with the logical operators (AND, OR, NOT). The search is carried out on the Web OPAC: see Searching the Web OPAC.

What is the Dublin Core standard and why is it important?

It is an international metadata standard (15 descriptive elements) that makes it easier to retrieve resources. The ASC adopts it to describe archival units: see Metadata · Dublin Core.

What is the Omeka software?

It is the open-source system used for the web publication of a selection of the record database. More in Credits.

Can I book a visit to the archive premises?

Not at the moment: works are under way to restructure the premises and reorganise the sections, along with the restructuring of the database. The archive is closed to the public until the works are completed.

Where are the ASC premises?

On the campus of the Salesian Pontifical University, on the ground floor of the Don Bosco Library building, next to the CeSIT offices. Full address in Information.

Does the ASC hold the Acts of the General Council?

Yes, in bound paper form and in digital copy (in several languages: Italian, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German).

When did the digitisation of the catalogue begin?

The foundations for computerisation were laid around 1988 (cf. Cardinal R. Farina); the current records date back to the early 1990s.

What types of documents are in the archive?

Documents (mostly paper), biographical references of deceased SDB members, images, books and booklets, objects, video and audio. The detail of the types is in Sections of the Archive.

Does the ASC have a classification scheme? What are the main headings?

Yes, updated to October 2023. The main category headings range from A. Salesian Society to X. Various fonds. Full framework in Classification scheme.

Are there particular fonds in the archive?

The archival units are divided into fonds according to the classes of the classification scheme. An indicative overview: Don Bosco, Causes of the Saints, General Secretariat, Missions, Social Communication, Mary Help of Christians, Rectors Major, deceased and departed SDB, SDB Bishops, FMA Institute, Salesian Family, General and Regional Councillors, Particular Files, Salesian Society, General Procurator, General and Provincial Chapters, Operational Sectors, Oratory-Valdocco, Provinces, Salesian Houses, UPS, Don Bosco 88, General Bursar’s Office and others.

Does the ASC hold documentation on microfiches?

Yes. On the occasion of the Bicentenary (1815–2015) the digital version of the microfiches of some fonds was produced (Don Bosco, Don Rua, Maria Domenica Mazzarello and the beginnings of the FMA Institute). They are 4,813 microfiches for about 293,000 images. See Microfiches.

Is the ASC linked to other consultation structures, study centres, museums or archives?

Yes: with the Don Bosco Library of the UPS and the Library of the Salesian Historical Institute (URBE network / PARSIFAL portal), with the Salesian study centres, the Salesian museums and the archives of other religious institutes. All references are gathered in Links.

Is the ASC in contact with other Salesian archives?

Not directly. Some Salesian provincial historical archives online: