"Economic history" collection

Type: Thematic bibliographic collection
Status: Closed collection
Location: “STO”
Time span: 1833–2017
Language: Mainly Italian; volumes in French, English, German, Spanish, Latin, and other languages are also present
Format: Printed monographs
Access conditions: Open or on-site consultation, depending on the document
Origin: The collection brings together volumes originating from the Library of Economic History

Content:

The collection consists of a heterogeneous set of volumes covering a wide range of humanities and social science disciplines, with a strong emphasis on historical, economic, and political themes. The publications range from the late nineteenth century to the early 2000s, offering a long-term overview of the evolution of thought and research in these fields. Most of the texts are in Italian and, although it is not possible to identify a clearly predominant geographical area, references to European contexts—particularly Italian ones—are frequent. A key common feature is the presence of numerous monographs, alongside serial publications and conference proceedings, reflecting a collection that has followed both academic debate and the periodical output of institutes and foundations.

Main thematic areas:

• Economic and social history: Studies on labour, capital, finance, emigration, and the history of industry.
• Political and institutional history: Volumes on relations between the state and religion, political movements, and late-century political crises.
• Social sciences and philosophy: Texts addressing social theory, urban studies, social psychology, and critical thought.
• Gender studies and women’s history: Volumes dedicated to prominent female figures and the social history of women.
• Conference proceedings and collective works: A significant portion of the collection consists of essay collections and conference proceedings on specific topics.

Documentary and historical value:

The collection shows a moderate degree of thematic coherence, revolving around the intersection of history, economics, and sociology. Chronological coherence is less rigid, with volumes spanning more than a century, making the collection particularly useful for diachronic research. Its relevance for academic and specialist research is considerable, as it includes both foundational and classic works as well as more specialised publications—such as conference proceedings—that often contain scholarly contributions not easily available elsewhere. The presence of older, sometimes rare editions adds substantial historical and documentary value to the collection.