Provveditori e Sopraprovveditori alla sanità
Item
Country
IT
Name of institution (English)
State Archives of Venice
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
ita
Contact information: postal address
Campo dei Frari, San Polo 3002, 30125 Venice
Contact information: phone number
0039 0415222281
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
as-ve@archivi.beniculturali.it
Reference number
Provveditori e Sopraprovveditori alla sanità
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Superintendents for health
Title (official language of the state)
Provveditori e Sopraprovveditori alla sanità
Language of title
ita
Creator / accumulator
Provveditori alla sanità
Sopraprovveditori alla sanità
Date(s)
1486/1798
Language(s)
ita
Extent
88 linear metres (1,103 storage units)
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
This fonds comprises documentation related to the administration of health institutions, epidemics and control over diseases. Besides the documentation produced internally, (decrees, deeds, etc.), there are series concerning correspondence with other institutions of the Republic of Venice and with foreign agents and organisations. Some series are related to specific medical issues, particularly records regarding medical professionals, and health crises, such as epidemics.
Some documentation contains information regarding the Jewish population of Venice. The project Judaica-European has identified and made available some of these records. At the moment, it is possible to find on this website digital copies of the following Jewish-related records:
996: "1631, 1653 - Registro Morti Ebrei": annual summary of deaths of Jews from 1631 to 1656.
997: "Registro dei morti ebrei e turchi": records of deaths of Jews (fols.1-157) and Turks (fols. 158-160) from 1671 to 1707.
998: "Libro morti ebrei [...] turchi": annual summary of deaths of Jews and Turks from 1707 to 1764.
Some documentation contains information regarding the Jewish population of Venice. The project Judaica-European has identified and made available some of these records. At the moment, it is possible to find on this website digital copies of the following Jewish-related records:
996: "1631, 1653 - Registro Morti Ebrei": annual summary of deaths of Jews from 1631 to 1656.
997: "Registro dei morti ebrei e turchi": records of deaths of Jews (fols.1-157) and Turks (fols. 158-160) from 1671 to 1707.
998: "Libro morti ebrei [...] turchi": annual summary of deaths of Jews and Turks from 1707 to 1764.
Archival history
The Provveditori alla sanità della Repubblica was one of the magistracies elected by the Maggior Consiglio (Major Council). The oldest references to the existence of archives in the Republic of Venice indicate the concentration of documents in the Basilica of Saint Mark, the Doge's Palace and the buildings of the different Councils and Colleges of government.
New efforts to organise and better preserve written documents of the institutions of the Republic are known in the 13th century. For instance, in 1266, the Maggior Consiglio (Major Council) determined that all its decisions should be transcribed and that one of the copies should be stored at the archive of Quarantia. In 1271 and 1272, new orders determined that all "avogadori" (magistrates) should return any documents that they eventually had in their possession for their own personal use to the Doge's archives.
On October 27, 1283, a deliberation referred to the fact that the laws of the Maggior Consiglio were registered in ten books. Then, it was determined the creation of a commission to copy those laws that were still in place. The existence of a Cancelleria Ducale (Chancellery in Doge's Palace) where the most important documents were stored and with proper officials, probably became a reality in this period.
After the fall of the Republic of Venice in 1797, document collections faced many challenges as they were separated to different areas of the city, while others were transported to other cities, such as Paris, Vienna and Milan. In 1807, the fonds was divided in three main buildings: the Scuola di S. Teodoro for political documentation, the Convent of S. Giovanni Laterano for judicial documentation and the S. Provolo for State for financial matters. On December 13, 1815, Francesco I determined the reunification of the archival collections and, in 1822, the Convent of S. Maria Gloriosa dei Frari was chosen to become the main building of the archive. In the last decades of the 19th century some additional structures were added. At the same time, a successful negotiation process allowed for the return of almost all archival collections that had been sent to other cities in the first decades of the 19th century.
New efforts to organise and better preserve written documents of the institutions of the Republic are known in the 13th century. For instance, in 1266, the Maggior Consiglio (Major Council) determined that all its decisions should be transcribed and that one of the copies should be stored at the archive of Quarantia. In 1271 and 1272, new orders determined that all "avogadori" (magistrates) should return any documents that they eventually had in their possession for their own personal use to the Doge's archives.
On October 27, 1283, a deliberation referred to the fact that the laws of the Maggior Consiglio were registered in ten books. Then, it was determined the creation of a commission to copy those laws that were still in place. The existence of a Cancelleria Ducale (Chancellery in Doge's Palace) where the most important documents were stored and with proper officials, probably became a reality in this period.
After the fall of the Republic of Venice in 1797, document collections faced many challenges as they were separated to different areas of the city, while others were transported to other cities, such as Paris, Vienna and Milan. In 1807, the fonds was divided in three main buildings: the Scuola di S. Teodoro for political documentation, the Convent of S. Giovanni Laterano for judicial documentation and the S. Provolo for State for financial matters. On December 13, 1815, Francesco I determined the reunification of the archival collections and, in 1822, the Convent of S. Maria Gloriosa dei Frari was chosen to become the main building of the archive. In the last decades of the 19th century some additional structures were added. At the same time, a successful negotiation process allowed for the return of almost all archival collections that had been sent to other cities in the first decades of the 19th century.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Provveditori alla sanità (Superintendents of Health) were created as a temporary office for cases of emergency, on March 30, 1348. It became a permanent institution established by the Senate on January 7, 1486, following the plague of 1478.
Three magistrates possessed direct control and vigilance powers in matters of public health and hygiene in the city. Because of the great importance of the tasks entrusted to them, the Provveditori were invested with broad powers. In fact, in 1504 they were granted criminal jurisdiction, and, in 1535, all their decisions were declared unappealable. This last rule was altered four years later by the Consiglio di dieci (Council of Ten), which established the right of appeal before a specific college formed by the Esecutori alla bestemmia (Executors to the blasphemy) and the Savi all'Eresia (literally, Wise men to heresy). In 1556, two other officials were added, named Sopraprovveditori alla Sanità, with the power to issue death sentences. However, in 1563, the right of appeal was delivered to a special college of ten "savi" (wise men) to be elected by the Senate from its own body.
The competences of the Provveditori and Spraprovveditori extended to every matter pertaining to the health and public hygiene of the city as well as possible risks of new diseases. The following are some of the sectors they had jurisdiction over: lazarettos and measures to prevent diseases from spreading; doctors and other health professionals; medicines; trade of edibles; dangerous industries; pollution; cleaning of streets, canals and wells; beggars; harlots; innkeepers; recovery of floods; burial licenses; gathering information on the health situation of other states and setting up any sanitary cordon at the borders to avoid the spread of epidemics, if necessary.
Three magistrates possessed direct control and vigilance powers in matters of public health and hygiene in the city. Because of the great importance of the tasks entrusted to them, the Provveditori were invested with broad powers. In fact, in 1504 they were granted criminal jurisdiction, and, in 1535, all their decisions were declared unappealable. This last rule was altered four years later by the Consiglio di dieci (Council of Ten), which established the right of appeal before a specific college formed by the Esecutori alla bestemmia (Executors to the blasphemy) and the Savi all'Eresia (literally, Wise men to heresy). In 1556, two other officials were added, named Sopraprovveditori alla Sanità, with the power to issue death sentences. However, in 1563, the right of appeal was delivered to a special college of ten "savi" (wise men) to be elected by the Senate from its own body.
The competences of the Provveditori and Spraprovveditori extended to every matter pertaining to the health and public hygiene of the city as well as possible risks of new diseases. The following are some of the sectors they had jurisdiction over: lazarettos and measures to prevent diseases from spreading; doctors and other health professionals; medicines; trade of edibles; dangerous industries; pollution; cleaning of streets, canals and wells; beggars; harlots; innkeepers; recovery of floods; burial licenses; gathering information on the health situation of other states and setting up any sanitary cordon at the borders to avoid the spread of epidemics, if necessary.
Access points: locations
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The fonds is divided into series according to types of documentation.
Finding aids
Unpublished finding aids available in the archive:
Published finding aids:
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2022
Linked resources
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