The Historical Archive - Library of the Chamber of Labor of Milan was founded in 1976 with the aim of initiating, preserving, and organizing the documents of the workers' movement, studying the Milanese civil society of the post-World War II period. Starting from the documents of the Chamber of Labor, an activity of recovery and research was developed that progressively exceeded its territorial and disciplinary limits, with the intention of contributing to the establishment of a Lombard economic archive.
The project started in 1974 following the discovery of the Archive of the Chamber of Labor of Milan in the large cellars of the building at Corso di Porta Vittoria 43. The building, guardian of this treasure, was itself a witness to a piece of history. Inaugurated by Mussolini in 1933, it became the headquarters of the provincial fascist unions for twelve years, until the Liberation when it was occupied by trade unionists and anti-fascists who made it the headquarters of the reborn Chamber of Labor of Milan.
In 1997, the Historical Archive of the Chamber of Labor transformed into the Archivio del Lavoro association, with the aim of investigating the theme of labor in all its aspects, preserving its memory.
The Archivio del Lavoro is now a non-profit association that collaborates, as an open and autonomous institution, with public and private entities to establish that 'front' of studies aimed at investigating the economic and historical aspects of the labor movement and business.