The Archive, located on the upper floor of the villa, houses numerous collections which constitute the documentary section of the Foundation and which belonged to the protagonists of the cultural scene of the early twentieth century: among others, the very rich archives of Papini , Conti , Pavolini , Carocci , Contri , Meriano , Ferrero , Viani , Pea , Sanminiatelli , Balilla Pratella and a rich collection of books on Futurism consisting mostly of first editions.
Overall, it is a collection of more than one hundred thousand documents, variously distributed between letters, manuscripts, drawings and period photographs.
The material is divided within each Collection in alphabetical and chronological order, available daily to a specialized audience of scholars and researchers.
Also notable for its historical and literary interest is the rich collection of Futurist magazines, newspapers and periodicals, including the 1909 issue of “Le Figaro” in which the first Futurist manifesto was published, the complete collection of the original Futurist Manifestos, the initial series of the magazine “Noi” with woodcuts by Enrico Prampolini, and the collection of the small Florentine magazine “L'Enciclopedia”, considered one of the rare examples of Italian Dada.
Also worthy of note is the extensive library, located in the reading room, which houses numerous volumes, mostly exhibition catalogues, scholarly publications on the painting and literary movements of early 20th-century Italy and Europe, and editions of correspondence between various figures in 20th-century culture. The works are available for consultation but cannot be lent. These include publications that once belonged to the artist, purchased through exchanges with other institutions, and exhibition catalogues to which the Foundation has contributed as a lender. The reading room also houses the collection of rare catalogues and brochures from the years 1913-1980, an integral part of the Primo Conti Collection.
The Foundation's book heritage also includes the rich library of the Marcello Venturoli and Gioacchino Contri Funds , the Maestro's private library and the small libraries annexed to the various documentary Funds.
