The project of a register of graduates at the Milan School of Veterinary medicine (1812-1933)

The recent arrangement and inventory of the archive of the former Milan Veterinary School has revealed the significance of a number of documents that provide a reliable and continuous overview of the names of all the young graduates of the School over the course of its 125-year history, up to its incorporation into the University at the end of 1932, when it became the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. In light of these findings, we have initiated the development of a digital registry of the Milan School's alumni, which will serve as the primary component of a website dedicated to the institution's history and the training of veterinarians. This website is scheduled for release in early 2024. The graduates register will collate a range of information, including the subject's surname, first name, patronymic, date of birth, place of origin, date of graduation, and the title of the final dissertation. The latter is a valuable addition, facilitating a deeper comprehension of the evolution of this field of knowledge. Furthermore, whenever feasible, a concise overview of the subsequent career trajectory will be provided. A set of data for an Excel spreadsheet filing has therefore been identified, which will be augmented by means of careful collection of information from the documents. This process will be conducted in a methodical manner to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the data. Once this data has been collected, it will be exported to a WordPress plug-in database in preparation for its subsequent publication on the web. Concurrently with the creation of the database, a website will be designed using the WordPress platform. This website will allow users to employ search filters to browse and query the information stored in the underlying database. Moreover, the website will feature additional sections dedicated to the social history of the profession, including research on the role of veterinary medicine in public and sanitary control of epizootic diseases, the wholesomeness of meat destined for slaughter and sale, the health conditions of livestock sold on the market (with the development of legal veterinary medicine) and of livestock raised in the countryside or used in the military. Furthermore, the activities of the School and its graduates will facilitate an understanding of the interconnections between the veterinary profession and state institutions, urban elites and the territory, with a particular focus on economic development in a European context.