The Protocolli were originally generated by the Secretary of State to keep track of its own correspondence. Today, the Protocolli are one link in the chain which researchers use to retrieve documents from the Fondo Moderno series. That series is composed of the following four parts: Interni-Esteri, 1814-1822 (ID VATV492-A); Interni, 1822-1833 (ID VATV493-A); Esteri, 1815-1850 (ID VATV494-A); and Esteri, 1851-1922 (ID VATV495-A). Following is an explanation of the entire system. This explanation is repeated in the database records for each of the four series mentioned above, the Fondo Moderno (ID VATV173-A), and the Rubricelle (ID VATV175-A). The Protocolli are used in conjunction with the Rubricelle to locate individual documents in the archives of the Secretariat of State. Both these series are located in the Sala degli Indici in the ASV. Researchers should first turn to the Rubricelle. The Rubricelle series is chronological, although the volumes for each year are alphabetical, primarily by personal or corporate names. In the late nineteenth century broad subject or geographical categories (e.g., breve, congressi, consistoriale) 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 provide rubric numbers and contain a concise but amplified listing of individual items. 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. 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 Ecclesiastici, outside the ASV. To see these documents, contact the secretary of state archives. ASV Indici 1031, 1032, and 1033 correspond respectively to the following three series: Interni, 1822-1833 (ID VATV493-A); Esteri, 1815-1850 (ID VATV494-A); and Interni-Esteri, 1814-1822 (ID VATV492-A). These indici are arranged chronologically by year and then 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 subject matter classified under 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 fascicolo requested. 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 buste numbers to request materials. To request rubric numbers from Indice 1033 (Interni-Esteri, 1814-1822), note the year, the rubric, and the fascicoli numbers. ASV Indici 1089-I, 1089-II, and 1089-III are the key indici to the Esteri, 1851-1922 (ID VATV495-A). 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.), busta, and fascicolo numbers. To request materials, the rubric number, year, and fascicoli numbers are the essential pieces of information to note. 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. Earlier materials are often contained in fascicoli requested.
