"Gribaudi" collection

Type: Bibliographic collection
Status: Closed collection
Location: “GEO”
Time span: 1831–2007
Language: Mainly Italian and French; includes titles in English, Portuguese, German, Spanish, Polish, and other languages
Format: Printed monographs and periodicals
Access conditions: Open or on-site consultation, depending on the document
Origin: The collection comprises volumes originating from the “Dino e Piero Gribaudi” Library

Content:

The collection is a specialized assemblage, predominantly geographical in nature, with a strong focus on bibliographies, documentary repertories, and reference works (dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases). Most of the volumes were published between the 1940s and the 1980s, with some earlier items dating back to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. A significant portion of the collection is devoted to studies and bibliographies of Italian regional geography, offering nearly comprehensive coverage of all regions. Other subjects addressed include human geography, migration, urban studies, and economics. The presence of works edited by the Turin-based geographer Dino Gribaudi, as well as handwritten notes indicating “donation by Prof. Dino Gribaudi,” suggests that the collection was largely assembled or donated by him, thus conferring a distinct academic and specialized provenance.

Main thematic areas:

• Italian regional geography: The core of the collection consists of systematic bibliographies relating to the Italian regions.
• International geographic bibliographies and thematic studies: A substantial part of the collection is devoted to bibliographies and repertories on specific topics such as toponymy, migration, industrialization, urban planning, and geographic serials, with references to international contexts including the United States, Canada, the Soviet Union, Belgium, and Taiwan.
• Reference works: The collection includes dictionaries, encyclopedias, and geographic atlases, serving as essential tools for specialized research.
• Urban studies, economics, and social sciences: Volumes addressing urban planning, economic development, and social and demographic issues are included, particularly with reference to the Italian and Turin contexts.
• History and scientific dissemination: The collection also contains works on history and other scientific disciplines, such as geology, which complement the geographical themes.

Documentary and historical value:

The collection demonstrates a high degree of thematic and chronological coherence. Its documentary and historical value is considerable, as it provides an overview of research methodologies and key areas of interest in twentieth-century Italian geography. The collection is particularly relevant for academic and specialized research, especially in the history of science and geography, as well as for bibliographic research. Its nature as a personal collection associated with Professor Dino Gribaudi further enhances its historical significance.