Study on the Corrispondenza relativa a sanità ed epizoozia (1600-1796) held by the Archivio Storico Comunale of Ferrara

This proposal studies archival papers held by the Archivio Storico Comunale of Ferrara, Italy. The archive documentation is divided into two parts, ancient and modern, with a break in 1796. The structure of the ancient archive, with documents from the 13th to the 18th century, is organized in numerous series including that of our interest, called Corrispondenza relativa a Sanità ed Epizoozia (1600-1796). This series consists of 37 envelopes numbered from 199 to 236 and covers a period that goes from the year 1601 to 1765. As there aren’t repertoires and specific studies in this regard, the series is configured as an unpublished collection. The objective of the study is to examine and select the contents of the envelopes relating to the health sector in the territory of the Legazione of Ferrara, to identify the hygiene and health regulations implemented to prevent and stem the frequent epidemic waves (plague, flu ...) in the period considered, to evince containment measures aimed to protect communities. One of the most documented preventive measure is the Fede di Sanità, a certificate that must be owned by those who passed through the territory.