I have been attempting to find out something (anything!) about the ‘Fondo Amedeo Maiuri’, having heard about it at the Herculaneum conference here in Rome the other week. It doesn’t have a website – but I have been able to find out a few things.
Maiuri’s personal archive was acquired from his daughter, Bianca, in 2001 by the Università Suor Orsola Benincasa di Napoli. Today it is housed in the ‘Centro Internazionale per gli Studi Pompeiani’. This is in Scafati, at the Villa Nunziante a Scafati (once known as the Caserma del Polverificio Borbonico). It consists of c. 1200 photos of different format of all the sites that Maiuri was involved with (i.e. Pompeii, Herculaneum, Beneventum, Campi Flegrei and so on). Those of Pompeii date to the 1950s and 60s. Then there is his library of over 3000 books, and a file of letters sent to Maiuri from 23 different correspondents (I have no idea who at present), in addition to conference invitations and the like for the entire period 1911 to 1961, his bibliographical notes, and two manuscripts about Herculaneum. The archive also includes honours awarded to him – medals, diplomas, honorary citizenships! There must be other things too.
I would like to know if any of you have been to the Centro Internazionale, and seen (or worked with) Maiuri’s archive. The Centro website describes the facilities for students of Suor Orsola, but doesn’t mention anything about opening its doors to outsiders. There’s not even a telephone number. Does anyone know anything about this???
I would like to know if any of you have been to the Centro Internazionale, and seen (or worked with) Maiuri’s archive. The Centro website describes the facilities for students of Suor Orsola, but doesn’t mention anything about opening its doors to outsiders. There’s not even a telephone number. Does anyone know anything about this???
