The documents preserved in the State Archives serve as a testament to the institutional activities of various governmental bodies and judicial authorities. They are organized based on the historical periods during which they were created and are typically grouped into pre-unification archives, post-unification archives, and non-governmental archives.

Ancient Regimes

The State Archives of Cosenza hold records from the Court of the Royal Secreto, Court of Bagliva, and the Royal Provincial Court.

During the French Decade, the civil administration of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was reorganized through the decrees of August 8, 1806, and December 8, 1806. Calabria was divided into two provinces:

● Citeriore, with its capital in Cosenza

● Ulteriore, with its capital in Monteleone (present-day Vibo Valentia).

Each province established an Intendancy led by an Intendant, who centralized administrative, financial, and police powers. The archives of the Calabria Citra Intendancy and its successor, the Prefecture, under the Savoy Kingdom, preserve documentation related to municipal and provincial public works, public and maritime health, municipal accounting, and ecclesiastical affairs. Of particular interest is the Sila Public Land Fund (1806–1900), including unique maps that document a long history of land seizures, occupations, and confiscations in the Sila region.

Judicial Archives

The judicial records preserved by the institute include documents produced by individual magistrates operating in the Province of Cosenza. Among the oldest courts was the Royal Provincial Court, which, following the 1808 reform, was replaced by Courts of First Instance. These reforms also introduced Courts of Appeal and Criminal Courts, which later evolved into Criminal Grand Courts and Special Grand Courts for matters of public order and state security.

The documentation from the Criminal Grand Court includes political trials that reflect the involvement of Cosenza in the Italian Risorgimento, such as the trial of the Bandiera brothers and records of the 1848 revolts.

Other Notable Collections

Documentation on brigandage in the Province of Cosenza, spanning both the pre-unification and post-unification periods, intersects with materials from the Sila Public Land Fund. Additionally, the Prefecture Archives contain valuable records from the Podestà system (1925–1946), offering insights into the political and social climate during Fascism and the post-Fascist period.

Other important collections include:

● Notarial Archives

● Onciari Cadastral Records

● Murattian Cadastre and later cadastral records

● Civil Status Records

● Draft Lists and Military Records