In 1592 Ranuccio I Farnese decided to create an autonomous body called the Archivio Ducale (also known as Archivio Segreto Farnesiano). The project goal was to collect and preserve all documents of the Farnese age. Today it includes a heritage of more than 15,000 volumes and 200 periodicals. The site chosen to host such a gathering was initially the palace of Pilotta, then in 1948 it was transferred to the old hospital. It later became an organ of the Ministero dei Beni Culturali and the Ministero dell'Interno.