The Rubricelle were created to serve the office of the Secretariatus Status as functional indexes to documents and files. Today they serve to aid researchers who are interested in locating specific documents in the Secretariatus Status (SS.) series Fondo Moderno. This large series is divided into four subseries: Interni-Esteri, 1814-1822; Interni, 1822-1833; Esteri, 1815-1850; Esteri, 1846-1922. There are several methods for the retrieval of documents in the Fondo Moderno and its component parts (each of which is described separately among the records of the Secretariatus Status). These methods are described in the general series description for the Secretariatus Status series Fondo Moderno and are repeated in this guide as appropriate to series description for each of the four SS. series that form the Fondo Moderno. The Rubricelle are organized chronologically. Documents are treated individually in the Rubricelle. The Rubricelle index documents alphabetically, primarily by personal or corporate names. In the late nineteenth century broad subject or geographical categories (e.g., breve, congressi, concistoriale) were added as access points in the Rubricelle. A few of the larger subjects, such as "Nunziature" and "Vescovi," were respectively subdivided again by specific nunciatures and alphabetically. Each entry provides a one-line description of the business, correspondent, and the (usually five-digit) protocol number, in the right-hand column. Some mid-nineteenth-century Rubricelle also list the corresponding rubric number. Note that the rubric numbers are related to, but serve an entirely different function than, the Rubricelle. From the Rubricelle, researchers who have both the protocol and rubric numbers can proceed directly to ASV Indici 1031, 1032, 1033, or to ASV Indici 1089-I, 1089-II, or 1089-III, described below, to get the rest of the information necessary to request an item. Researchers desiring more information on the contents of a document, related items, or the rubric number should proceed to the Protocolli. The Protocolli (also located in the Sala degli Indici) are used in conjunction with the Rubricelle. The Protocolli provide rubric numbers and contain a concise but amplified listing of individual items, compared to the Rubricelle. Researchers should note the year and protocol number in the Rubricelle and proceed to the Protocolli registers covering the year and protocol number desired. The Protocolli registers are organized numerically according to protocol number. Entries indicate the place, date, and correspondent; the object of business, the person assigned to deal with the request; the date; a brief note of the response or "risoluzione"; and an "Archivio" or rubric number. The rubric number is written largely in the "Archivio" column. Numbers written in smaller print sometimes appear above or below the rubric number. These numbers refer to the protocol numbers of related documents, either before (above) or after (below) a given item. given item. When a desired item is located the rubric number and the year of the protocollo volume should be noted and the appropriate Indici 1031, 1032, 1033, or 1089-I, 1089-II, or 1089-III should be consulted to get the rest of the information necessary to request an item. Specific items that have not been assigned a rubric number cannot be retrieved. Documents followed by the letters "AE," are in the Archives of the Congregazione degli Affari Ecclesastici, outside the ASV. To see these documents one should contact the secretary of state archives. ASV Indici 1031, 1032, and 1033 correspond respectively to the following three series: Interni, 1822-1833; Esteri, 1815-1850; and Interni-Esteri, 1814-1822. These indici are organized chronologically by year. Within each year the listings are organized numerically by rubric number. Researchers with a year in mind and a rubric number can turn to these indici for the correct busta or fascicolo number to request a desired item. Indici 1031, 1032, and 1033 are chronologically arranged listings (subdivided by year and then according to rubric numbers, buste, and fascicoli). Indici 1031, 1032, and 1033 also indicate any subseries in the rubrics (e.g., in Indice 1033, Rubric 27 breaks down by city: Ferrara, Forli, Ravenna, etc.), which can help to clarify the nature (subject matter classfied under) of a rubric number. Not all rubric numbers are represented in each year and the year designation for a rubric number does not mean that all materials in the busta are from that year. Earlier materials are often contained in a particular fascicoli. After identifying material desired in Indici 1031 and 1032 (Interni, 1822-1833, and Esteri, 1815-1850, respectively), copy down the year, the rubric, and the busta numbers to request materials. To request rubric numbers from Indice 1033 (Interni-Esteri, 1814-1822), note the year, the rubric, and the fascicolo numbers. ASV Indici 1089-I, 1089-II, and 1089-III are the key indici to the Esteri, 1851-1922. Indice 1089-I covers the years 1851-1877; 1089-II covers the years 1878-1913; and 1089-III covers the years 1914-1922. All three indici are arranged similarly to ASV Indice 1031, 1032, and 1033. Thus, entries indicate rubric numbers, any subdivisions of a rubric (e.g., in Indice 1089-III (1916), Rubric 251, "America Rappresentanti Pontifici," breaks down according to delegations (Chile Internunzio, Cuba e Portorico delegato, Haiti delegato, etc.), buste, and fascicoli numbers. To request materials, the rubric number, year, and fascicoli numbers are the essential pieces of information to note. Again, not all rubric numbers are represented each year and the year designation for a rubric does not indicate that only materials from that year are represented in the file(s). Earlier materials are often contained in a particular fascicolo.
