Lonato Documentation Center Preserves Town’s History and Culture
The Lonatese Documentation Center is no longer just a good idea, a dream tucked away for enthusiasts of local history, but a solid and important reality. In just a few months, since the project was presented by Giancarlo Pionna with the support of the «Amici della Fondazione Ugo da Como» association, the Center already houses about 180 publications (books and other materials) containing over 650 titles closely related to the town of Lonato.
The cataloging continues at the headquarters in via Rocca 2 (a few steps from the Casa del Podestà) where the material, upon reservation, can of course be consulted. The goal is to gather into the Center everything that has been written, documented with photographs, postcards, over the years regarding Lonato’s historical, social, and cultural journey.
Objectives and Activities of the Center
Nothing should be lost. This is the commendable spirit upon which the center’s activities are based. To collect in one place the history of a town. «The invitation is extended to all fellow citizens– explains Pionna – to look into their attics, cellars, and memory books, so that documents abandoned to dust or left to personal sentiment may become a common heritage. We do not ask for the material to be handed over; if someone wishes, they can make a donation, otherwise it will be duplicated or microfilmed.
A photographic survey of works of art, architectural monuments, landmarks, as well as characteristic views of Lonato and its hamlets is also planned. The purpose is to promote their preservation and to deliver to the future images of the town at the dawn of the third millennium.
Research and Collaboration
Finally, the study and census of the environment and territory of Lonato, including flora, fauna, archaeological sites, and research on local traditions. Many ways are available to collaborate: providing access to materials one owns, indicating people or organizations holding items relevant to the project, directly participating in research, cataloging, indexing, photocopying, or any other necessary tasks to properly organize the incoming material, sponsoring specific research campaigns financially, and promoting the publication or exhibition of research results.
Anyone wishing to collaborate should contact the project coordinator, Giancarlo Pionna, or, if equipped with a computer, “click” on the email pionna@libero.it.
