Archivio di Stato del Cantone Ticino Online Catalogue

Overview

The Archivio di Stato del Cantone Ticino (ASTi, State Archives of the Canton of Ticino) is the official cantonal archive of the Italian-speaking Swiss canton of Ticino. Located at Viale Stefano Franscini 30a in Bellinzona, the cantonal capital, it forms, manages, and preserves the historical memory of the canton from the 12th century to the present.

History and Founding

The archive was formally established in 1803 following the creation of the canton of Ticino as part of the Helvetic Republic's reorganization. It has since grown continuously, collecting the records of public entities, individuals, families, associations, and businesses that trace the evolution of the Ticino region over more than eight centuries.

Collections and Holdings

The archive currently holds over 800 documentary complexes with deposits extending approximately 28,000 linear meters. Holdings encompass notarial archives (in paper and parchment), administrative acts, historical fonds, iconographic and cartographic sources, and a Ticinensia collection of books and periodicals. The library holds approximately 20,000 volumes; the periodical collection (emeroteca) comprises about 2,000 titles covering periodicals published in Ticino from the second half of the 18th century to the present. The archive also holds significant photographic collections including works by photographer Eugenio Schmidhauser and the Monotti photographic archive covering Ticino social life in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Audio-visual materials, flags, musical works, and graphic and pictorial works are also preserved.

Online Catalogue

The archive offers an online catalogue (archiviodistato.ti.ch/Query) that provides researchers with access to finding aids and digitized documents remotely.

Access and Usage

The archive is open to the public during regular working hours at Viale Stefano Franscini 30a, 6501 Bellinzona. Researchers are encouraged to consult the online catalogue prior to visiting. The archive promotes historical knowledge and serves as a center of expertise in archival science.