SCRINIARII. — From the Latin *scrinium* (= casket), which properly indicated a cabinet where precious objects and documents were kept, and later meant “office” and “archive”; hence certain employees of the Roman imperial Chancellery and of the provincial administration offices were called *scriniarii*, particularly those assigned to the archive.
The papal Chancellery (v.) also had *scriniarii*, at least from the 8th to the 11th century; they often held the title jointly with that of notaries, drew up documents, and perhaps also served as archivists.
In some cities, e.g., Rome, the title of *scriniarius* was used alongside others (tabelliones, curiales, etc.) to denote notaries (v.) who drew up private documents.
BIBL.: H. Bresslau, *Handbuch der Urkundenlehre*, I, 2nd ed., Leipzig 1912, p. 206; C. Paoli, *Diplomatica*, new ed. updated by G. C. Bascapé, Florence 1942, pp. 82 and 94. For the papal *scriniarii* up to the year 1909, V. L. Santifaller, *Saggio di un elenco di funzionari della Cancell. pontif.*, etc., in *Bull. dell’Ist. st. II. per il medioevo e Arch. muratoriano*, 56 (1940). Giulio Battelli