The Biography of Elvira Ruocco  (by Elvira Ruocco)  Chapter 15  MS. RUOCCO  IN THE ARCHIVES

The passion drives me

Since Novembre 1994, after the leaving from the Company of Dr. Vittorio Meloni, the Historic Archives had been handed to Dr. Cappelli’s service, who was head of the Brand Image Management.
It was, anyway, a short period and a superficial knowledge because in the month of March 1995, the Archives became part of the Italy Market Management on Mr. Giovanni Osellame’s service, with whom, contrary to his predecessors, I eventually succeeded in getting that relation which I always had wished.
In any case, during such short period, I had the opportunity to follow some important projects and events which saw myself personally committed.
On November 29, there was a relevant meeting between the persons in charge of the Audiovisual Archives, which took place by the Lombardy Region head-offices. Together with the AEM, Montedison, Pirelli and Breda companies, Alfa Romeo was recognized as an historical business reality characterized by a traditional presence on the territory. In such a meeting, the update phase of census data was started for the creation of an Archive of the Archives, with the purpose of let participants know the way of accessing the audiovisual media.
In February, I informed Dr. Cappelli that, in the context of a call issued from the Milan’s Chamber of Industry, Craftmanship and Agriculture in cooperation with the History of Enterprise and Innovation Centre, Alfa Romeo had been nominated, among the companies with headquarters or production units in the Milan’s Province directly managing their own Archives, for the award of a prize consisting in a contribution of 10 millions of old Liras. Prize that was granted but for which I found difficulties in investing it for improving the Archives management, because of bureaucratic reasons within Fiat.
On April 20, I effected an on-the-spot investigation into the Drawings Archive at the Innocenti-Maserati in Lambrate in order to verify the consistency and the typology of the documentation. Such initiative was taken in the context of a recovery program for archive funds at risk of dispersion. In addition to various technical documentation, technical reports and blueprint drawings, a fairly good photographic documentation was recognized which, accompanied by a description note, I sent to the Technical Drawings Archive of Arese, in that time managed by Mr. Campili.
I remember with great sadness that on-the-spot investigation in a nearly desert factory with departments emptied of any machinery, offices where it seemed that people had run away… In the cabinets and in the open drawers there still were personal belongings like slippers, provisions of water small bottles, Kleenex handkerchiefs, snacks… a show that really left me prostrated.
But let us come back to Mr. Giovanni Osellame. Ever since the first interview and the subsequent visit to the Archives, I had been soon involved in several initiatives aimed at promoting the Alfa Romeo image, mainly towards the sale agents. As soon as he installed himself, he received this note of mine in which I reported on the activities of the Centre and on my personal involvement as sole person in charge of a definitely exacting job.
About this new cooperation, I will tell you more extensively in the next chapter.

Event organized by the Scuderia del Portello with Architect Cajani
and the colleagues Marino Bussi, Antonio Magro and Nadia Cattaneo