The First Digitization Campaign of the Archives of the Venerable English College in Rome

This article aims to describe the first phase of the digitization project of the archives of the Venerable English College in Rome. The project began in December 2023 and will conclude in September 2024. It has been structured around two main approaches: the first aims to preserve one of the most fundamental documents in the College’s history, while the second seeks to make accessible unpublished documents that shed light on the establishment of various dioceses in North America (Québec, Baltimore, and Philadelphia). The digitization of the first manuscript revealed a series of problems, mainly due to prior inadequate restoration efforts. This experience underscores the importance of a meticulous and expert approach in the preservation and digitization of historical documents, to ensure not only their physical survival but also their accessibility to future generations.