Historical archive
The Danish Academy in Rome has a rich physical and digital archive. It holds an important history of the establishment of a Danish Academy in Rome and the subsequent development of cultural ties between Italy and Denmark. In its entirety, these archives represent a significant piece of Danish cultural heritage.
The archives span from the first, fledgling ideas and initiatives before World War II, with a gradually growing desire for a cultural platform for the exchange of art and science between our two countries, to the present day.
With financial support from the two foundations, A.P. Møller og Hustru Chastine Mc-Kinney Møllers Fond til almene Formaal and Aage og Johanne Louis-Hansens Fond, we now have an up-to-date and well-organised physical archive containing the Academy's more than 90,000 diverse documents.
Out of this large amount, we have digitised the archives from 1951 until 1975 (as well as a few documents from later years). This allows online access to these historical statements documenting the creation and establishment of the Academy.
We have digitised approximately 13,500 items. They are registered internally at the Academy in the archive system ArchivesSpace and consists of correspondence, guest minutes, clippings, annual reports, meeting minutes, construction plans, activities and a large collection of photographs.
This database unlocks the stories and personal correspondences of the small group of intellectual enthusiasts in and around Rome during the founding phase, whose work forms the basis of the Academy we have today. We gain insight into the exciting and sometimes dramatic economic, diplomatic and political negotiations between the countries. We follow the process from the temporary location in a rented apartment in Via Zanardelli behind Piazza Navona to the gigantic project of establishing, constructing and completing Kay Fisker's building, which was inaugurated in 1967.
Access to the digital database as well as to the complete physical archive, which is located at our address in Rome, is available by applying to the Academy for access in accordance with applicable Danish archive law.
To request access to the physical or digital archive - contact: accademia@acdan.it