The Bourbon del Monte di Sorbello documents (State Archives of Perugia)
The historical archive of the Marquises Bourbon del Monte di Sorbello was deposited at the State Archives of Perugia in 1951 by Uguccione Ranieri di Sorbello.
The collection is divided into two series: loose papers and registers, and constitutes an invaluable documentary corpus for reconstructing not only the family’s history, but also the socio-political development of a broad region spanning Tuscany, the Upper Tiber Valley, and the Perugia area.
An inventory of the collection was prepared in 2001 by Dr. Margherita Malagnino.
This archive should not be confused with the materials held at the Fondazione Ranieri di Sorbello ETS (see below), which serve as a complementary collection focused primarily on the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Ranieri di Sorbello Archive
As of 2025, the Fondazione Ranieri di Sorbello ETS has received on deposit from the heirs of Count Roberto Ranieri (1940–2025) the Archivio Ranieri di Sorbello, which includes documents primarily concerning the Counts Ranieri of Perugia and of Civitella (Umbertide, PG).
This archival complex, spanning from the 17th to the 20th century, holds significant historical value – formally recognized by a State declaration of August 30, 1980 – and is currently undergoing reorganization and cataloging.
Archival Collections of the Fondazione Ranieri di Sorbello ETS
The Fondazione Ranieri di Sorbello ETS houses several archival collections, officially declared of significant historical interest on September 13, 2002. These documents pertain to various members of the Ranieri Bourbon di Sorbello family and to other individuals linked to them through kinship (Archivio CARTE DI FAMIGLIA).
Of particular importance is the documentation concerning Uguccione Ranieri di Sorbello (1906–1969), a renowned scholar, journalist, and writer, as well as a decorated war hero.
Among the archival materials connected to Uguccione, notable is the collection of index cards he compiled during the writing of Perugia della Belle Époque 1859–1914, published posthumously in December 1969, shortly after his death. These files include handwritten notes organized chronologically and thematically, offering detailed historical insight into the city of Perugia from 1859 to 1915. The digitalisation of this fund is being carried out in a joint project by teh Fondazione and ISUC (Istituto Storico dell’Umbria Contemporanea) and is to be completed in 2025.
The Fondazione Ranieri di Sorbello ETS preserves the historical archive of the Perugia branch of the environmental association Italia Nostra (Archivio ITALIA NOSTRA), founded in 1959. Originally held by honorary president and art historian Prof. Pietro Scarpellini (1928–2010), the archive was officially deposited at the Foundation in 2009. It offers a comprehensive record of the Perugia branch’s activities in safeguarding Italy’s historic, artistic, and natural heritage. The materials include correspondence, press clippings, public statements, complaints, petitions, and detailed documentation of numerous environmental protection campaigns. It is worth noting that Uguccione Ranieri di Sorbello served as the branch’s first president in 1959.
In addition to Prof. Scarpellini’s collection, the archive incorporates two other document groups linked to Italia Nostra:
- The papers of Luigi Fressoia, compiled during his tenure as branch secretary
- The papers of Claudia Gornati de Ciuceis (1944–2015), founder and first president of the Committee for Lake Trasimeno
The Foundation also holds a substantial collection of research materials on the Allies during World War II (Archivio ALLEATI), with particular focus on their role in the Liberation of Umbria and central Italy. This archive includes original material, as well as copied wartime documents, diaries, correspondence, pamphlets, and study notes. One section is specifically dedicated to the Monuments Men and the protection of cultural and architectural heritage during the Second World War and armed conflicts more broadly.
