NAM Official Annual Report 2024

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ISSN: 1997-6348

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FOREWORD

Satisfaction on several fronts has marked the year under review. Once more, we have managed to continue with our philosophy of prioritizing archival processes above all other marketing and outreach activities, without overlooking the latter. Accessions, archival processing and accessibility are our main metrics to evaluate our work. Without a strong emphasis on these three processes, we cannot fulfill the mission entrusted to us at law.

In terms of accessions, we had amazing achievements through the transfer of records from all over Government. This is and remains our main obligation under the law. These efforts were supplemented with a recordbreaking year in terms of private deposits. Complementing these two important processes, the Records Management Unit negotiated and concluded several retention policies; we can now say that our country is developing a robust and efficient system of decision making on what archival records are to be kept for future generations. We have also continued with the accessions of notarial registers that are now moving back from storage in the private sector to the Notarial Registers Archive in Valletta.

“Accessions, archival processing and accessibility are our main metrics to evaluate our work.”

Archival processing is corollary to our efficiency as holdings that are not catalogued are unusable and at times this might lead to breach of access rights. During the year under review we strengthened our cataloguing infrastructure in terms of IT, personnel and

training. We are merging thousands of entries deriving from different databases and working on authority records. Parallel work on this is done also in terms of oral history and film and photographic holdings. Another initiative aimed at processing records and rendering them accessible to the public was the agreement we signed with Ancestry for the digitisation and cataloguing of the Guliana Letard-Ciantar.

When it comes to accessibility, we continued offering excellent services in our reading

rooms. Certain works were carried out to facilitate physical access. Due to the new burden of overflowing storage spaces, we have hired storage space from the private sector and agreed upon a delivery system to the Central Archive. In this way, we are providing access to the records that are open for research even when they are in off-site repositories. Another initiative in favor of accessibility was the opening of 232 secret wills spanning from 1693 to 1869 which are now searchable by the public.

storage space, and we cannot let the public to suffer from this shortcoming. This is in no way the ideal solution. But we cannot go back on our tradition of putting access to the archives as the main raison d’être of our existence and work.

“we strengthened our cataloguing infrastructure in terms of IT, personnel and training.”

Notwithstanding all this, I cannot but once again express my disappointment that another year passed and the search for a site to replace the one that was taken away from us at Ta’ Qali so that we can start work on the badly-needed new National Archive has not led to any result. We continued with our pressure on the authorities to deliver on the electoral promise of a new state-of-the-art National Archive building for Malta. A new National Archive is crucial to avoid a total collapse of the present system and the dismantling of the records management infrastructure that we have been painstakingly building over the years.

This year was also one during which we saved important extensive holdings consisting of the records of the Malta Dockyards and Air Malta. While I do hope that in future such accessions reach us as part of a structured planned process, we will always have to be prepared with ‘empty shelves’ for the unpredictable accessions – whether due to political or economic pressures or in answer to some disaster.

“A new National Archive building is crucial”

All these developments are reported in detail in this report which over the years has provided the public with a tool of accountability and also, I would say, a research tool.

Allow me to thank all my amazing team who contribute to it, and the authors who penned the historical articles that we included. For another year, this publication was completely produced in-house. Thank you to all who made this possible.

Within this scenario, we have opted to store new accessions at facilities that we are renting from the private sector. We ran out of

Dr Charles J. Farrugia National Archivist and CEO

“The mission of the National Archives is to preserve the collective memory of the Maltese nation through the protection and accessibility of all public archives…” The National Archives Act,3(1).

The President of Malta, Her Excellency Myriam Spiteri Debono and the staff of the National Archives, 3 July 2024.

COVER PHOTO

Ninety years ago, 6 May 1935 marked 25 years of George V as the King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India. This was the first ever Silver Jubilee celebration of a British monarch in history and great festivities were organised in the UK and throughout the British Empire. In Malta, the Silver Jubilee festivities were held between the 5 and 12May 1935.

Malta was awash with Union Jacks, brimming with euphoria and loyalty towards the King. Fireworks, military parades, tea parties for children, garden parties, receptions, a gala evening, bands, film shows, free distribution of food and cigarettes to the poor, scout jamborees, illumination of churches, a state dinner, a searchlight display, bonfires, Te Deums, sport rallies and horse races were crammed into this week.

Sixteen days later, Major Edward John Briffa Depiro, the Secretary of the Jubilee Festivities Committee, handed “an album containing photographs of the different items of the Festivities in connexion with His Majesty’s Silver Jubilee” to Hannibal Scicluna, the Librarian. These photos are now preserved at the National Archives.

The photo on the cover is one of these photos.

In his report to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, Governor Campell states:

“Most children were also given a suitably decorated box of chocolates as a Jubilee souvenir, while those who were not fortunate enough to secure a box were given packets of sweets decorated with the British colours.” (Dispatch from the Governor to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, 168, 31 May 1935.)

It is a really engaging group photograph of children and hints at the hardships of lower income families or orphaned children. The remarkable sharpness and fine detail in this photograph helps the viewer to notice not only the policeman’s collar service number, but also the footwear, or lack of it, of the children. The fact that some children in the front rows are without shoes, points at the social differences and culture of that period. Due to the thick clothes of most of the children, it must have been rather uncomfortable for those not wearing socks and shoes. The photograph was taken in May, so the weather would still not have been warm enough for barefoot walking to be a simple choice. Curiously enough, the children in this photograph do not seem to be very happy and comfortable to be posing.

Photographer: unknown.

National Archives of Malta, Photographic Collection, 2153.

1RECORDS MANAGEMENT UNIT

Overleaf: Air Malta photographic archive prior to transfer to the National Archives. Sometimes this is the condition of public records before being processed and transferred to the National Archives.

The Records Management Unit (RMU) assists public entities, departments and ministries in fulfilling their records’ management obligations. Meetings and visits are organised to identify historical records and to plan their eventual transfer to the National Archives. The Unit also assists the entity/department/ministry with proper records management practices. Ultimately, an official retention policy, endorsed by the National Archivist under the provisions of the National Archives Act, is developed.

RECORDS MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE

Assisting public offices in the management of records is one of the main functions of the Records Management Unit. During the year under review, the Records Management Unit continued the practice of holding introductory meetings with public officers at the National Archives’ main office. During these meetings, the legal obligations set-out by the National Archives Act were explained to the responsible officers.

In 2024 meetings were held with officers from various public entities, including the Food Safety Commission, the Ministry for Home Affairs, Security and Employment, Identità, the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality and the Restoration and Preservation Department.

Fifty-four entities, both public and private, were supported by the Records Management Unit during 2024. These entities are listed below.

Public Offices supported by the Records Management Unit during 2024

Agenzija Sapport

Air Malta

Commerce Department

Data Management Unit (Office of the Prime Minister)

Department of Information

Mosta Primary School A

Siġġiewi Primary School

Office of the Electoral Commission

Food Safety Commission

Foundation for Social Welfare Services

Government Printing Press

Gozo General Hospital

Heritage Malta

Identita’

Jobsplus

Local Governments Authority

Public Offices supported by the Records Management Unit during 2024

Malta Communications Authority

Malta Police Force: Birkirkara Police Station

Malta Police Force: Bormla Police Station

Malta Police Force: Qormi Police Station

Malta Police Force: European Arrest Warrants

Malta Psychology Profession Board

Malta Statistics Office

Malta Tax and Customs Administration (MTCA) - Customs Department

Malta Tax and Customs Administration (MTCA)- Property Tax

Migration Directorate

Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights

Ministry for Education, Sports, Youth, Research and Innovation (MEYR)

Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism (MFET) - Consular Services and Maltese Living Abroad

Ministry for Gozo and Planning

Ministry for Health and Active Ageing - Superintendence of Public Health

Ministry for Health and Active Ageing (MHA) - Department for Health Regulation

Ministry for Health and Active Ageing (MHA) - Enviromnental Health Directorate

Ministry for Health and Active Ageing (MHA) - Karin Grech Hospital

Ministry for Health and Active Ageing (MHA) - Mount Carmel Hospital

Ministry for Health and Active Ageing (MHA) - People Management Division

Ministry for Home Affairs, Security and Employment (MHSE)

Ministry for Social Policy and Children’s Rights (MSPC) - Department of Social Services

Ministry for Social Policy and Children’s Rights (MSPC) - Minors Care Review Board

Ministry for Social Policy and Children’s Rights (MSPC) - Office of the Umpire

Ministry for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Planning

Multi Agency Risk Assessment Meeting

National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE)

National Statistics Office (NSO)

Office of the Prime Minister - European Funds, Equality, Reform and Social Dialogue

Office of the Public Service Commission

Old Persons Standards Authority

House of Representatives

Restoration Preservation Department

Sliema Local Council

University of Malta

Office of the Superintendance of Public Health

Planning Authority

Private Entities supported by the Records Management Unit during 2024

Malta Association for the Counselling Profession

APPRAISAL OF RECORDS

The National Archives issues a letter of appraisal with regards to cases of dormant collections of records that are no longer required by the creating entity or in cases of

Reference No. Entity

APL2024-01

MEYR - Human Resouces

APL2024-02 MHA - X-Ray Department

APL2024-03 MTCA - Customs Department

APL2024-04 MTIP - Public Works

emergency, stipulating whether the records are to be preserved or not. During 2024, the National Archives issued such letters to help the listed entities decongest their repositories.

Subject

Appraisal of Telework Schedules / Logs (2016-2022)

Appraisal of X-Ray Negatives

Appraisal of Customs Ledgers

Appraisal of Public Works Registry Files (1966-1980)

APL2024-05 Malta Police Force - Police Licences Office

PROCESSING OF HISTORICAL RECORDS STILL HELD BY PUBLIC ENTITIES

When historical records are identified, the creating office is instructed by the RMU on the way forward with the final aim of transferring these records to the National Archives. This includes sorting, finding the original order, cleaning (when necessary), placing into archival quality boxes and listing. In those cases where the records show traces of pest contamination, these are to be treated professionally under the supervision of the National Archives’ Conservators before the transfer.

Appraisal of Card Indexes for Weapons Licences Files (up to 1998)

RETENTION POLICIES

Retention policies for public records is a legal requirement under the provisions of the National Archives Act of 2005 (CAP 477). The year under review saw an increase in public offices reaching out to the National Archives to formulate and implement a records retention policy. This was mainly due to the establishment of the Document Management Unit within the Office of the Prime Minister. This Unit requires that the offices it works with have a retention policy to properly manage their records. In addition, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires these instruments, and since its coming into force a momentum for retention policies by public institutions has been created.

As shown in the following table, a total of thirty policies have been finalised during 2024, with several others in the pipeline in view of being finalised in the forthcoming year. Most of the listed retention policies are completely new ones, while others are revision of policies which were implemented in previous years.

Private Deposit - Accessioning the Albert Ganado Personal Papers Collection.

Reference No. Entity

Status

REP2024-01 Office of the Electoral Commission Finalised

REP2024-02 MFET - Chief Information Office Finalised

REP2024-03 Identità - Expatriates Unit Finalised

REP2024-04 MSPC - Office of the Permanent Secretary - Malta Psychology Profession Board Finalised

REP2024-05 Office of the Public Service Commission Finalised

REP2024-06 MHA - Environmental Health Directorate Finalised

REP2024-07 Aġenzija Sapport Finalised

REP2024-08 Malta Tax and Customes Administration - Tax Office (Property Tax) Replaced by REP2024-08 (V.2)

REP2024-08 (V.2) Malta Tax and Customes Administration Finalised

REP2024-09 Commerce Department - Trade Services Finalised

REP2024-10 Forms for narcotic and psychotropic drugs managed by the Department for Health Regulation Finalised

REP2024-11 National Commission for the Promotion of Equality Finalised

REP2024-12 Identità - Financial Unit Finalised

REP2024-13 Identità - Public Registry Finalised

REP2024-14 Identità - ID Cards Unit Finalised

REP2024-15 OPM - European Funds, Equality, Reforms and Social Dialogue Finalised

REP2024-16 Identità - Passports Unit Replaced by REP2024-16 (V.2)

REP2024-16 (V.2) Identità - Passports Unit Finalised

REP2024-17 Identità - Searches Unit Finalised

REP2024-18 Malta Police Force Finalised

REP2024-18 (V.2) Malta Police Force (V.2) Finalised

REP2024-19 MSPC - Office of the Umpire Finalised

REP2024-20 MHA - Karin Grech Finalised

REP2024-21 MSPC - Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Meeting (MARAM) Finalised

REP2024-22 MSPC - Minors Care Review Board Finalised

REP2024-23 MAFA - Ministry for Agriculture, Fishing and Animal Rights Finalised

REP2024-24 MEEP - Ministry for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Planning Finalised

REP2024-25 OPM-P&SD-Corporate Procedures Finalised

REP2024-26 MSPC - Department of Social Security Finalised

REP2024-27 Restoration and Preservation Department Finalised

DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ACROSS GOVERNMENT

IT AUDIT REPORT BY THE NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE

In an era where digital transformation is reshaping every sector, the shift from paper-based to electronic document management has become a pressing priority for Governments worldwide. Malta’s public institutions are no exception, tasked with managing an ever-growing volume of digital records and emails essential to their daily operations. In response to this challenge, the National Audit Office (NAO) of Malta has conducted a comprehensive Information Technology (IT) audit, focusing on the effectiveness of document management systems across various Government Ministries.

The audit sought to evaluate the practices surrounding document management, ensuring that they complied with legal standards and identifying both strengths and areas for improvement. The audit report outlines a series of key findings and recommendations aimed at enhancing the Government’s digital record-keeping infrastructure.

Centralised Data Governance

The NAO’s audit underscored the importance of a centralised approach to data governance. The report recommended the establishment of a dedicated body tasked with setting standard guidelines for data security and improving the sharing of information across departments.

Furthermore, the audit highlighted the need for ongoing training for public servants in data management to ensure they are equipped to handle the evolving digital landscape.

Task Force for Paper Record Digitisation

One of the audit’s major recommendations was the creation of a task force to oversee the digitisation of existing paper records. This would facilitate a smoother transition to the Central Electronic Document Management System (CEDMS). The task force would be responsible for standardising digitisation procedures and providing training to staff, ensuring that the integration of digital and paper records is seamless.

Feedback and Collaboration

Effective management of the CEDMS requires input from various Government departments. The NAO recommended that the Document Management Unit (DMU) within the Office of the Prime Minister should actively seek feedback from these departments. This approach would allow for timely updates and adjustments to policies and procedures governing the CEDMS.

Phased Data Migration

Migrating existing data from older systems, such as the Document Register (DocReg), to the CEDMS will require a phased and carefully planned approach. The NAO stressed the

importance of meticulous planning, thorough testing, and clear communication with all stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition without data loss.

Preserving Legacy Data

Before any data migration, the NAO highlighted the need to preserve all existing data in the DocReg system. This step is critical to maintaining access to historical records, which may be essential for future reference.

Standardisation and Best Practices

The audit found a lack of consistent procedures for document classification and naming across Government Ministries. To address this, the NAO recommended the development of standardised protocols to improve file retrieval and enhance overall efficiency. Moreover, best practice guidelines for document management should be formalised, and collaboration with the National Archives of Malta should be strengthened to ensure compliance with record retention laws.

Enhanced Security and Monitoring

Given the sensitivity of Government information, the NAO urges the

implementation of robust security measures for the CEDMS, including encryption and access controls. Regular monitoring and evaluation of the system’s performance are also essential to safeguard data integrity and prevent breaches.

Embracing Digital Signatures

Finally, the NAO advocated for the introduction of digital signature policies across Government entities. These policies would ensure the authenticity and integrity of electronic documents, further enhancing trust in digital processes.

In conclusion, as the Maltese Government continues its digital transformation, the NAO audit highlighted both the opportunities and challenges of moving from paper to digital document management systems. By addressing the gaps identified and implementing the proposed recommendations, public institutions stand to gain in efficiency, compliance, and security, ultimately fostering a more modern and responsive public service.

ACCESSIONS

2024 was another successful year for records being deposited or transferred to the National Archives’ repositories. One of the main reasons for this success was the implementation of retention policies through which historical records are being identified and transferred to the National Archives for permanent preservation.

Ministry for Economic Services

A particularly exceptional accession (2014173) was the one of legacy records transferred to the National Archives from the Commerce Department. This accession consists of over 19,000 files spanning from the 1950s to the early 2000s which were created by the below originating Ministries / Departments / Entities:

Ministry of Agriculture, Power and Communications

Ministry of Development

Ministry of Development, Energy, Port and Telecommunications

Ministry of Industrial Development and Tourism

Ministry of Industry

Ministry of Parastatal and People’s Investment

Ministry of Trade

Ministry of Trade and Agriculture

Ministry of Trade, Industry and Agriculture

Ministry of Trade, Industry and Parastatal and People’s Industries

Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism

Aids to Industrial Board

Ministry of Trade, Industry, Agriculture and Tourism

Office of the Prime Minister

Department of Industry

Department of Industry- Standards Laboratory

Department of Trade and Industry

Department of Trade

Malta Development Corporation

Parliamentary Secretary for Industry

Malta’s participation in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

Packing and transferring of the Air Malta Photographic Archive.

Having these records as part of the NAM holdings allows NAM clients to research the economic and industrial development of Malta and strengthens NAM sources when it comes to post-independence records.

Apart from fulfilling its legal obligation in accessioning historical public records, as in previous years, the National Archives continued accessioning records through private deposits and records created under the umbrella of the MEMORJA project.

2024-001

2024-002

2024-003

The table of registered accessions also includes the individual transfers of registers / indices from the out-sourced repository to the Notarial Registers Archive (NRA). The Records Management Unit is tasked with registering these accessions whenever there is a transfer. In this way the National Archives is officially registering the NRA holdings in its accession register.

Private Deposit by Barry Miller: A collection of digital surrogates of photos, shot by Ernest William Thomas Miller during his posting in Malta (1957-1959). Continuation of accession no. 2023-021

Private Deposit by the 3/11 regiment RMA (T) Association: Final part of the records created and managed by the doner including correspondence, photos, accounts and documentation on the winding down of the Association. Continuation of accession no. 2020-006

Private Deposit by Sylvana Cassar (nee. Bonaci):Photographs of confectionary sweets, pastries and dishes created by Vincent (Ċensu) Bonaci (20 March 1933 - 9 March 2015).

2024-004 Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation: Registry files Indexes. 1953-2005

2024-005

Private Deposit by Fabian and Ivana Scerri De Carlo: Rent Payments Register of agricultural land and urban properties. 1942-1946

2024-006 Recovery of Public Records: Three registers containing official correspondence of the the British and SicilianRegiment in Malta. 1799-1825

2024-007

2024-008

Private Deposit by Tony Pace (MEMORJA): Deposit consists of 6 video recordings of Mr. Tony Pace and 2 audio recordings. 1950s-2023

Private Donation by the family of Edwin Galea (Galea’s Art Studio): Audio-visual material belonging to Edwin Galea (19342023) covering mostly Valletta, Galea Art shop, Maltese lifestyle, family lifestyle, holidays, 1950-2000.

2024-009 Private Deposit by Mark Mifsud Bonnici: Deposit consisting of ephimera including documents, diaries, newspaper cuttings, official reports, fortress orders and personal notes of two individuals, Mr Walter Salomone and Mr Maurice Mifsud Bonnici. 1910s-1980s

15 Albums

1 linear metre

1 Register

3 Volumes

51 film reels & 1000 negatives

23.53GB

Accession

2024-010 Records of the Comitato Permanente Universitario (Acquisition FNAM): A collection of records of the Comitato Permanente Universitario including minutes, verbali and correspondence 1901-1935.

2024-011 Private donation Dr George Azzopardi (Gozo Archive): Old photographs, postcards and ephimera related to Gozo. 19001970

2024-012 Notary to Government (NOTARIAL REGISTERS ARCHIVE - NRA): Notary Register no. R4: Notary Michelangelo AdrianoPlacido Abela Registers 1557 - 1574.

2024-013 Notary to Government (NOTARIAL REGISTERS ARCHIVE - NRA): Notary Register no. R5: Notary Michelangelo Adriano Registers 1753 - 1795.

2024-014 Private Deposit by Peter Matthews via Richard Stedall (MEMORJA - Malta Bus Archive): Colour photographs of Maltese and European buses and Maltese lorries, trucks and taxis. 1990s

2024-015 Private Deposit by Richard Stedall (MEMORJA - Malta Bus Archive): 109 black and white photographs of Malta & Gozo buses dating from the 1980s.

2024-016

Private Deposit by Simon Sullivan via Richard Stedall (MEMORJA - Malta Bus Archive): A collection of bus tickets dating from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

2024-017 Private Deposit by Veronica Galea: Reels of films by film maker Cecil Satariano - 1 original reel of Giuseppe (8 mm); 1 reel of Ilona (8 mm); 2 reels of the Beach (8 mm - 1 transferred, 1 not); 1 audio reel of Giuseppe (soundtrack) 1972.

2024-018 Private Deposit by Raymond Fava: Five panels with Karmenu Fava Pin Badge Collection. 1960s-1990s

2024-019 Private Deposit by George Azzopardi (GOZO ARCHIVE): Photographic and ephemera materials dated between 1930 and 1955

0.2 linear meters

3 postcards, 15 photographs, 6 ephimera items.

4 Volumes

43 Volumes

126 items

1.42GB

Hundreds of tickets

5 reels

13 items

2024-020 Malta Police Force: St Julian’s Police Station Records (2nd batch) - Trading Licences etc. 1946-2017 10 linear metres

2024-021 Malta Police Force: Sliema Police Station Records - Trading Licences, Commissioner Occurrence Books, etc. 1944-2017 65 linear metres

2024-022 Office of the Prime Minister: Appraised HR Records. 6 linear metres

2024-023 Ministry for Health & Active Ageing - International Affairs and Policy Development: Records regarding the responsibilities of Health Inspectors in various public and government establishments e.g. St. Luke’s Hospital, pharmacies, butcher shops,among others. 1969-1996 2.5 linear metres

2024-024 Jobsplus: Appraised Work Books 1975-1990. 0.2 linear metres

Year 2000 Aerial Survey of Mdina and Environs. An item within Accession 2024-029.

2024-025 Jobsplus: Appraised Human Resources Records. Expired personal and recruitment files. Records have been appraised under the provisions of the Human Resources records -“Data Protection Public Administration Human Resources Corporate Procedures”issued by the People & Standards Division (Office of the Prime Minister).

2024-026 MEDE - Mosta Primary School A: School registers from the Mosta Primary School. The records include (divided into three Archival-grade boxes): The Teacher (magazine) 1929,1930; Class Visits 1969-1971; Visitor’s Book 1914-1984; Inventory of School Requisition of Articles 1928-1933; Report on Emigration and Unemployment 1926; Stationary; Subject Choice of English or Italian 1902-1907; Teachers’ Attendance Books 1936-1961; Teacher’s personal details 1954-55; Receipt for Stationary and School Requisites 1960-61; Infant apparatus 1959-61; school requisites 1961-1962; Teachers’ Personal Details 1954-55; School Leaving certificates; Miscellaneous Correspondence and Circulars; and Syllabus 1902-1961.

2024-027 Private Deposit by Joe Mifsud: Collection consists of VHS (47) and BetaCam (4) tapes and audiocassette tapes (58) 1990s.

2024-028 Private deposit by Joseph Borg (MEMORIJA): Two MEMORJA interviews conducted with Joseph Borg carried out on 14 and 28October 2021. The interviews cover Joseph’s career in the Malta Police Force and his experiences curating the Corp’s museum. Included are the magazine ‘Il-Pulizija’ and a leaflet summarizing the history of the Islands, the Maltese flag, the Malta Police Force and a description of the Force’s emblem. Also included is a shoulder patch 1968-2021.

2024-029 Restoration and Preservation Department: Aerial photographic survey in 2000 covering the fortifications of Valletta, Cottonera,Mdina and Ċittadella, as part of the preparatory works for the Fortifications Project which was subsequently implemented in 2000.

2024-030 Private Deposit by Louis Manche: Negatives, Positives, Slides, ‘Betacam’ cassettes, ephemera and original advertisement designs Perfecta Advertising Limited 1960s-2000s.

2024-031 Private Deposit by Alfred Camilleri: Photographs taken by Alfred Camilleri and his brother(s). Subject of photographs: Funeral of Nerik Mizzi, Demonstartion in favour of Archbishop Gonzi, Maltese chaplain visiting Maltese soldiers in Germany, processionin Floriana, funeral in Floriana, Petrol Station, Malta Independence Day, Floriana Football Club in Gozo, and photographs of Floriana 1950s-1960s.

2024-032 Ministry for Health and Active Aging: Records consisting of MFH (the Ministry’s prior name) tenders, TAs, personal files and parliamentary questions 1977-2015.

0.5 linear metres

109 tapes

8GB

520 photographic negatives & 5 boxes photographs.

1,100 items.

64 items

3 linear metres

2024-033 Private Deposit by George Said: Collection consists of VHS tapes, reel and mounted slides by various, unknown photographers, covering dates 1954-1959, Ħal Far, FASRON 201 Special ‘Fleet Aircraft Servicing Squadron’. Items also include arrival of floating dock (LARA 1) in Malta in June 1995, Carnival, Visit of Archbishop Giuseppe Mercieca, Indian Troops in Malta and Gozo, etc. Reel includes film on civil defense in Malta. Other random photographic themes are included 1954-2000.

2024-034 Private Deposit by Sylvana Cassar: The Collection consists of photographic prints, newspaper cutouts, hand-written notes, and short stories, etc., belonging to actor and play-write Karmenu Gruppetta (20 December 1922 - 20 February1997). Collection donated by his niece, Sylvana Cassar. Gruppetta took part in theatre (shows such as Francis Ebejer’s ‘Ħadd fuq il-Bejt’), plays, TV programmes, and also took part in films filmed in Malta such as ‘Pulp’ (1972). The photos contain head shots, stagephotos, childhood and family photos, etc. The collection also includes a portfolio of newspaper cut-outs, article mentions, scripts, etc., 1922-1997.

2024-035

2024-036

2024-037

Private Deposit Malta Horticultural Society: Society Records 1903 - 2023.

Private Deposit The Cecil Satariano Film Collection continued (Veronica Galea): This consists of three original film reels of the film ‘Katarin’ by Cecil Satariano: 1 x Katarin original 40 mins, full length 16mm film, 1 x Katarin 15 min unused 16mm film reel + sound, 1 x Katarin 9 min, unused film reel, no sound 1970s.

Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade (MFET)List of Foreign Diplomats Personal Files: Headship Positions; Selected PFs and Foreign Diplomats.

2024-038 Private Deposit by Veronica Galea: 16 x radio shows produced between 1995 and 1996. All digitized and saved as an mp3 file. Average length per file is that of 40 minutes 1995-1996.

2024-039 Private Deposit by Joseph Pulis (MEMORJA): One MEMORJA interview conducted with Joseph Pulis carried out on 28 June 2022. The interview covers Joseph’s wartime experiences between 1940-1945.

2024-040

2024-041

Private Deposit by Joseph Camilleri (MEMORJA): One MEMORJA interview conducted with Joseph Camilleri. The interview coversJoseph’s wartime recollections in the early 1940s 1920s2019.

Private deposit by Carol Dorman: This PDE consists of photographs taken by Mr. Harold Frederick Rodgers (born 1911, died 1979) while stationed in Malta in 1938-1939. Rodgers joined the RAF in his late 20s and was a trained photographer, very often doing aerial photography 1938-1939.

482 items

205 units

0.5 linear metres & 15.50 GB of digital material

6 items

3.5 linear metres

32 items

1.37 GB

943 MB

103 images

2024-042 Electoral Office: General Office files of the Electoral Office 19911994. 11 linear metres

2024-043 Private deposit by Salvu Farrugia ‘Tal-Marokk’ (MEMORJA): Three MEMORJA interviews recorded with Salvu Farrugia ‘Tal-Marokk’. The interviews cover Salvu’s wartime experiences and his work in construction - specifically in a quarry in post-war Mqabba in the pre-mechanisation era 1920s-2019.

2024-044 Private deposit by Patrick Staines (MEMORJA): Two MEMORJA interviews conducted with Patrick Staines. The interviews cover Patrick’s wartime experiences and his civil service career and later a stint as a senior government executive after 1987 (1920s2018).

2024-045 Private deposit by Tony Terribile: Maltese Postcards printed during the first half of the Twentieth Century. Deposit consists of 12 albums 1900-1950.

2024-046 Private deposit by James Baldacchino obo Martin Pisani: Regular 8 film reels consisting of family outings and travels abroad. Originally belonged to Martin Ellul Mercer 2024.

2024-047 Private Deposit by George Azzopardi: Twelve bus ticket stubs to various villages around Malta, two Tramtickets and one booklet titled ‘Slipway’ Vol. 1, No.1, dated December 1943.

2024-048

Private deposit by Anatole Baldacchino (MEMORJA): One MEMORJA interview conducted with Anatole Baldacchino carried out on 28 March 2024. The interview covers Anatole’s experiences as a Thalidomide survivor, his research on the drug’s introduction and impact in Malta, his publication and his stint as President of the Thalidomide Survivors Association 1960s-2024 .

2024-049 Mount Carmel Hospital: Patient case and discharging records. Records contain information related to the patients admitted in the hospital, their diagnosis, laboratory examinations, provided medicine and their personal belongings 1932-1984.

2024-050 Acquisition by the National Archives: This collection is made up of 882 caricatures by Alfred Gerada (1895-1968), Malta’sbestknown cartoonist. Gerada is associated with Progress Press (The Times of Malta and Il-Berqa) which he joined as press artist at the age of 38. His cartoons,immediately identifiable by his style, provide an outlook of and a comment on Malta’s political travails. He also designed posters, logos, badges, and book illustrations (including the original cover of Ġwann Mamo’s Ulied in-Nanna Venut fl ’Amerca). Should more Gerada cartoons be found they will be transferred to the National Archives 19301968.

2024-051 Acquisition by the National Archives: Guljana Bartoli. A Guljana made up of 31 volumes (volume 23 is missing) and includes indexes, family trees and information about guspatronati of persons baptised in Malta.

1048 postcards

15 items

16.80 GB

13 linear metres

0.6 linear metres

2 linear metres

2024-052

2024-053

2024-054

2024-055

Private deposit by Norbert Bonavia: An image of the Bonavia family in Birkirkara 1965.

Private deposit by Raymond Caruana (MEMORJA): One interview recorded with former bus driver Raymond Caruana 1970s-2024.

1 item

473 MB

Private deposit by Carmel Pulè (MEMORJA): One written account about a downed German pilot who had survived for days afloat off the coast of Malta during the Second World War 1st June 1942. 2.85 MB

Private Deposit by Ġanni Micallef: Photos contain religious iconography, feast bands, group portraits and 1 image includes Dom Mintoff viewing a religious banquet set-up. These are to be digitized by NAM and returned to depositor 1940s-1980s.

18 photographic prints

2024-056

2024-057

2024-058

Private Deposit by Michael Kitson Attrad Montalto, Susan Maria Lee Attard Montalto and Philip Joseph Kitson Attard Montalto: The Baroness of Benwarrad Maria Angela Kitson Attard Montalto Collection.

4 linear metres

2024-059

Private Deposit by Frans H. Said: Frans Said original writings. 1 physical folder and 23 GB digital data

Private deposit by Elizabeth Lochhead: 2 large 10x8 transparency boxes were deposited by Ms. Elizabeth Lochhead, belonging to her husband, Ian Colin Lochhead. The transparencies were used in the publication ‘The Siege of Malta 1565’.

Private Deposit by Michael Cutajar ‘iż-Żinnu’ (MEMORJA): Video and oral history interviews of Michael Cutajar iz-Zinnu who had spoken at length about his career working in public transport from the 1960s until his retirement before the public transport reform in 2011. He also donated two photographic prints 19402019.

2024-060 Private Deposit by Lawrence Cefai (MEMORJA): Oral History interviews of Lawrence Cefai who has spoken at length about his wartime experiences and his role in negotiating the transfer of St. Paul’s Grotto from Government-ownership to the Collegiate of Saint Paul. He also donated a booklet commemorating the festivities of St. Paul’s shipwreck in Rabat 1940s-2018.

2024-061 Private Deposit by Vincent ‘Ċensinu’ Muscat (MEMORJA): Oral History interviews of Vincent ‘Ċensinu’ Muscat, detailing his WW2-era experiences 1940s-2018.

2024-062 Private Deposit by Busuttil-Dougall Family: The deposit relates to numerous works created by Mr. Anthony Dougall and Mr. Joseph Sebastian Dougall.

2024-063 Private Deposit by Joseph Zammit (MEMORJA): Oral history and video interviews of Joseph Zammit, who was interviewed about his career in the transport section of the Malta Police Force 1930-2019.

24 large photographic negatives & 10 x 8 colour transparencies

45.20 GB

2.48 GB

593 MB

40 box-files

5.22GB

2024-064

2024-065

Private Deposit by Joseph Gauci ‘Ta’ Marintun’ (MEMORJA): Oral history and video interviews of Joseph Gauci ‘Ta’ Marintun’ who was interviewed about his experiences as a bus builder 1930s2021.

Private Deposit by the Saliba Family: The deposit relates to Mr. Carmelo Saliba (b. 1919, d. 1980) and his career as a civil servant based in Kalafrana and Hal Safi as a ‘Clark of Works’, and on the Ħal Luqa airfield as a ‘Superintendent of Works’, in charge of quality and safety inspection 1940s-1980s.

2024-066 Private Deposit by James McManus (MEMORJA): A series of ephemera which the McManus family had collectedduring James McManus posting to Malta between 1975-1977.

2024-067 Private Deposit by Lillian Sciberras (MEMORJA): Oral history interview with Dr Lillian Sciberras talking about her experiences in the library and archives sectors 1940-2024.

2024-068 Private Deposit by Francis Bezzina (MEMORJA): One MEMORJA interview conducted with Francis Bezzina about his experiences in the local public transport sector in the 1960s and 1970s.

11.7 GB

103 scans

2024-069 Private Deposit by Rita Vella Brincat: The Model Shop was a photography studio, located at 117, Princeof Wales road, Sliema (Manuel Dimech Street today). The establishment was owned by Mr. Joseph Vella. The donation consists of two ledgers consisting of credit and debit sums,spanning from 1925 to 1937. 0.15 linear metres

2024-070 Private Deposit by the Galea Family: Bronze medal of the Malta Society of Arts and Manufacture, 1990, deposited by the Galea Family via inheritance 1990.

2024-071 Acquisition by the National Archives: Two boxes of marriage indices (Guljana), extracted from parish archives, bought from Dr Albert Ganado. Matrimoni di Portus Salutis, Valletta. Matrimoni di San Paolo del La Valletta 1586-1893.

2024-072 Private Deposit by Paul Galea: 12x 35mm mounted slides of Carnival from 1969, and 3x 35mm mounted slides from 1973 and 1977. 1969-1979

2024-073 Notary to Government: Notarial Registers Archive (NRA) - Indices for Notarial Registers. Accession form to record the transfer of records to the Notarial Registers Archive, managed by the Notarial Archive Foundation, at 217 St Paul’s Street, Valletta 1531-1883.

2024-074 Private Deposit by Jacqueline Formosa: 4 images of Mr Alfred Laferla (depositor’s father) at work in the Ħal Luqa Civil Airport; 1 tag (ephemera) of Mr Laferla; 3 images of Mr Laferla’s 1950 Bogwarth car; Mr Laferla’s driving licene; anewspaper page relating to Mr Laferla’s Bogwarth car (dated 1997); 20 images of Ħal Luqa staff party across several years,including the depositor, her mother and brother. The images alsoinclude Mr Josie Coppini as Father Christmas. 3 images of the depositor’s husband, Mr Alfred Formosa during his time working as a bus driver 1950-1997.

1 item (medal)

0.3 linear metres

15 items

84 volumes

34 items

2024-075

Private Deposit by Loraine Mercieca: 7 images of a funerary service at the Saint Domenic church in Valletta amongst other places from the 1950s, 6 images of depositor’s grandfather, Mr. Lawrence Griscti in New York, United States of America in the 1920s; an image of a victorious regatta team on their boat in 1928; and 2 images of the depositor’s mother, Ċettina Griscti (neè Grima) and family gathered around a tape player, listening to a tape from a relative in Australia in the mid 1950s. 1920-1960

2024-076 Private Deposit by Fabian Scerri De Carlo (MEMORJA): Fabian Scerri De Carlo spoke about how he had got into acting,the parts he had played and the character for which he is universally known for, Gawdenz Bilocca 1960s-2024.

2024-077

Extent

16 images

11.10 GB

Private Deposit by Albert Ganado: Albert Ganado Private Papers ca. 26 linear metres

2024-078 Private Deposit by Joseph Navarro: The collection includes images of the Baviera School from 1960 to1969; images of postwar Kalkara; carnival; vehicles, vessels and aircrafts; and images of the depositor’s maternal grandfather, Mr.Espedito Fitzpatrick (a cook with the RMA) and his father, Mr. James Fitzpatrick (Royal Navy) 1950s-1970s.

2024-079 Private Deposit by Veronica Galea: 1x Super 8mm film reel of ‘Ilona’; 1x Super 8mm film reel of’Famous Dutch’; and 1x empty reel can of ‘The Beach’ (reel to be deposited later) 1970-1979.

2024-080 Private Deposit by Veronica Galea: These photographic prints were donated by Ms. Veronica Galea as a continuation to Accession 2021-083 Stan Fraser Collection. These prints are already digitized and already found in our records 1941-1997.

2024-081 Private deposit by Dr. George Azzopardi (Gozo Archive): 6 images of Farmers at San Lawrenz, Gozo. 3 manuscripts: Procedure nella Corte di Speciale Commissione(1839-1849); Formulario Criminale (1839-1992); and a Żgħażagħ Nazzjonalisti Maltin collection of various letters, statements and newspaper cuttings related to incidents during a Nationalist Party Meeting held at it-Tokk in Victoria, Gozo on 29 July 1956. 1 ephemera: Second World War food control coupon for Gozo 1939-2000.

2024-082 Private Deposit by Veronica Galea: Image of a man and a woman seated in a garden. The man holds an animal on his lap. It is not clear if the animal is a dog or a cat.

2024-083 Private Deposit by John Coleiro: This Private Deposit consists of two CDs, with fourteen songs each 1920-1929.

2024-084 Private Deposit by Emma Grima and siblings: The deposit relates to the private works created by Mr Emanuel Stivala (1910-1987). The deposit includes topics on nature, religious festivities and family amongst others. Also present in this deposit are plays he had written for school during his time as a school teacher, and letters from the Rediffusion company notifying Mr Stivala that his works had been or were to be broadcasted 1920-1987.

188 digital items

2 film reels

80 prints

10 items

1 glass plate

2 CDs (28 tracks)

25 notebooks/ folders

2024-085 Private Deposit by Austin Gatt: These audio-visual records are related to the depositor’s activities as a PN officer and government minister 1980-2011.

2024-086 Private Deposit by Max Farrugia: A collection of photographs gathered and used by Mr Farrugia during his research on the internment and deportation during WW2 and his publication ‘L-Internament u l-Eżilju Matul l-Aħħar Gwerra’ 1939-1945.

2024-087 Private Deposit by Family Vassallo: The deposit consists of a set of 8mm reels shot by Joseph Mary Vassallo 1960-1970.

28 audio tapes & 10 Betacam tapes

691 photographic prints

Nine (9) 8mm reels.

2024-088 Ministry for Health and Active Aging (MHA): Engagement Cards (Sample). 1 box

2024-089 Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade: Appraised Human Resources Records.

2024-090 Malta Communications Authority: Legacy records generated by the Office of the Telecommunications Regulator (OTR) and the Department of Wireless and Telegraphy (DWT) 1998-2001.

2024-091 Environmental Health - Department for Health Regulation: Legacy records (registers) inherited by the Environmental Health Directorate ( Port Health Services) 1924-1995. 1.5 linear metres

2024-092 Ministry for Gozo: Personal files of MGOZ employees on attainment of 75 years of age. 1990-2010.

2024-093 Private Deposit by Josette Zammit: 1 photographic album including photographs of St. John’s Co-Cathedral, St. Publius Church and a number of local events such as the laying of the first stone at Blata il-Bajda and prominent personalities such as Archbishop Gonzi, Queen Elisabeth II and Saint George Preca. 1950s.

2024-094 Private Deposit by Anton Quintano: This collection consists of records pertaining to the ‘Geography Teachers Association’ active from the year 2000 to 2024.

2024-095 Private Deposit by Rose Busuttil: This collection of photographic prints was donated by Rose Busuttil, daughter of Emmanuel Busuttil. It consists of views of Malta, family photos, opera stars and musicians (mostly working at the Orpheum Theatre), Army and Navy photos 1910-1970.

2024-096 Private Deposit by John Cremona: This collection consists of a series of digital images of the coronation of the titular painting and related celebrations in 1975.

2024-097 Private Deposit by Max Farrugia: Photographs of various members of Parliament, political events, electoral ephemera and a number of photographs of individuals in Italy in the 1930s. 1929-1939.

2024-098 Private Deposit by Philip Xuereb: the items deposited are mostly photographic prints taken by Paul Xuereb (the depositor’s father) and the depositor himself. 1930-1999.

2 files (sample)

83 photographic prints

Six (6) bound volumes

Two large archival quality boxes.

102 digital photos

1 box

Albums and Scrap Books

2024-099

2024-100

Private Deposit by Joseph Mercieca (MEMORJA): These photographs were taken by the late Carmel Pullicino, and were handed over to Joseph Mercieca - the depositor. The subject of these photographic materials are mainly Maltese buses. 19701999

Private Deposit by Vincent (Vinny) Vella o.b.o. the Vella family: The collection comprises one box (50cm X 38cm X 26cm) full of music compositions - mostly authentic manuscripts by Maestro (Mro.) Vinny Vella, and other Maltese composers, including Joey Bellizzi, Lee Spiteri, Carmelo Zammit, J.B. Cassar and Tony Carr. It also contains music arrangements by Mro Vella of Jazz standards and popular songs, some of which are photocopies that were performed by him and his band. 1940-2024

Three (3) boxes of photographic prints and negative film.

One (1) large Archivial box

2024-101

2024-102

2024-103

2024-104

2024-105

Private Deposit by Peter Paul Ciantar: Deposit consists of photographic prints of St. George’s feast in Victoria, Gozo, from 1967, and TVM actors. 1960-1969

Private Deposit by Carmen Grech (MEMORJA): In this interview, Carmen Grech talks about her teaching experiences, including the introduction of mainstreaming deaf children in the educational system. 1940-2023

Private Deposit by Silvio Pace (MEMORJA): In this interview, Silvio Pace talks about his experiences as an individual who is hard of hearing. 1950-2023

Private Deposit by Andrea McEwan (MEMORJA): In this interview, Andrea McEwan talks about her son’s deaf diagnosis and her introduction to sign language.

Private Deposit by Natalino Psaila (MEMORJA): In this interview, Natalino Psaila talks about his life experiences as an individual who is hard of hearing. 1950-2023

2024-106 Private Deposit by Martin Micallef (MEMORJA): Father Martin Micallef speaks about his experiences of working alongside deaf people in the voluntary sector. 1950-2023

2024-107 Private Deposit by Marie Alexander (MEMORJA): In this interview, Marie Alexander talks about her experiences teaching deaf children. 1940-2023

2024-108 Private Deposit by Maria Galea (MEMORJA): In this interview, Maria Galea discusses her experiences as a sign language interpreter. 1978-2024

2024-109 Private Deposit by Loran Ripard Xuereb (MEMORJA): In this interview, Loran Ripard Xuereb talks about his life experiences as an individual who is hard of hearing. 1980-2024

2024-110 Private Deposit by Keith Callus (MEMORJA): In this interview, Keith Callus discusses his experiences as an individual who is hard of hearing. 1970-2023

10 photographic prints

2024-111 Private Deposit by Karl Borg (MEMORJA): In this interview, Karl Borg talks about his experiences as an individual who is hard of hearing. 1970-2023

2024-112

Private Deposit by Helen Borg (MEMORJA): In this interview, Helen Borg talks about her experiences as a mother of a deaf son. 1944-2024

2024-113 Private Deposit by George Vella (MEMORJA): In this interview, George Vella recounts his life experiences as an athlete who is hard of hearing. 1980-2023

2024-114 Private Deposit by Dorianne Callus (MEMORJA): In this interview, Dorianne Callus recounts her life experiences as an individual who is hard of hearing. 1970-2023

2024-115 Private Deposit by Mariella Pisani (MEMORJA): In this interview, Mariella Pisani shares her experiences as a person who is hard of hearing, including her experiences as a student in the UK. 1940-2023

2024-116 Private Deposit by Carlos Galea (MEMORJA): In this interview, Carlos Galea discusses the production of blood pudding (‘mazzit’) and how this came to be removed from the local market. 1973-2023

2024-117 Private Deposit by Carmen Mangion (MEMORJA): In this interview, Carmen Mangion discusses how ‘mazzit’ was produced and sold in her family’s shop. 1955-2022

2024-118 Private Deposit by David Galea (MEMORJA): In this interview, David Galea spoke about his former duties at the public abattoir and its past operations. 1955-2022

2024-119 Private Deposit by Anthony Bajada and Dominic Borg (MEMORJA): In this interview, Anthony Bajada and Dominic Borg speak about their experiences at the Public Abattoir throughout the decades. 1940-2022

2024-120 Private Deposit by Elia Sammut (MEMORJA): In this interview, Elia Sammut speaks about his experiences working at the public abattoir throughout the decades. 1954-2022

2024-121 Private Deposit by Emmanuel Schembri (MEMORJA): In this interview, Emmanuel Schembri speaks about his accountancy days, during which he came in contact with the meat industry and the public abattoir. 1954-2022

2024-122 Public Deposit by Gejtu Busuttil (MEMORJA): In this interview, Gejtu Busuttil speaks about how blood pudding (mazzit) was sold in his buther’s shop throughout the decades until this was stopped by an EU directive. 1958-2022

2024-123 Private Deposit by Leli Mangion (MEMORJA): In this interview, Leli Mangion talks about the production of blood pudding (‘mazzit’). 1942-2022

2024-124

Private Deposit by Maria Mangion (MEMORJA): In this interview, Maria Mangion talks about the production of blood pudding (‘mazzit’). 1931-2022

2024-125 Private Deposit by Mario Polidano (MEMORJA): In this interview, Mario Polidano talks about the production of blood pudding (‘mazzit’). 1930-2022

2024-126

2024-127

2024-128

Notary to Government (Notarial Registers Archive - NRA): Accession form to record the transfer of records to the Notarial Registers Archive, managed by the Notarial Archive Foundation, at 217 St Paul’s Street, Valletta. 1536-1870

Notary to Government (Notarial Registers Archive - NRA): Accession form to record the transfer of records to the Notarial Registers Archive, managed by the Notarial Archive Foundation, at 217 St Paul’s Street, Valletta. 1538-1906

Private Deposit by Kevin Casha: Photographic negatives donated by photographer Mr Kevin Casha. This collection is ‘in continuation’ to Accession 2022-062. The images include: generic images; commercials; portraits; event photography; street photography; etc.

553 Volumes

409 Volumes

2024-129

2024-130

2024-131

2024-132

2024-133

Private Deposit by Albert Ganado: Genealogical Records. 1500s-1900s

Private Deposit by John Meilak (MEMORJA): John Meilak spoke about his wartime experiences: his family’s move to Żebbuġ as refugees, life in the rural areas, sanitation and social aspects of the war. 1932-2024

Private Deposit by Charles Farrugia (MEMORJA): In this interview Charles Farrugia speaks about his experiences in the Archives sector. 1970-2020

Private Deposit by John Rizzo Naudi (MEMORJA): John Rizzo Naudi sat for two MEMORJA interviews, both of which were about his Second World War experiences. 1925-2018

Private Deposit by Joan Barbara (MEMORJA): Joan Barbara sat for two MEMORJA interviews: one about her wartime experiences and another one about her career in the civil service, part of which she had spent in the UK for 17 years. 1930-2019

2024-134 Malta Police Force: Police Licences Office - Refusal Private Guards and Community Officers and Private Guards records

500x 120 medium format negatives

2024-135 Private Deposit by Maurice Mifsud Bonnici (MEMORJA): Maurice Mifsud Bonnici was interviewed about his wartime experiences. He had attended Umberto Primo school Valletta where he and other students had sang Fascist anthems during the Abyssinian war. He recalled refugees descending on Lija after the first Italian air raids and their rehousing in public and private property. In addition, he discussed life in the shelters, hunger, Victory Kitchens, the black market, illnesses, fear, foreign news, soldiers and the George Cross presentation ceremony. 18802019

2024-136 Private Deposit by Joseph S. Micallef (MEMORJA): Joseph S. Micallef spoke about the Malta Study Centre, the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library and the Malta Manuscript Microfilm Project. 1933-2018

2024-137 Private Deposit by Lorenzo Zahra (MEMORJA): Lorenzo Zahra spoke about his contribution to the Curia Archives in Floriana. 1927-2018

2024-138 Private Deposit by Pawla Bonello (MEMORJA): Paola Bonello spoke about her ditties and at the end of her interview recited one. 1941-2024

2024-139 Private Deposit by Martin Scicluna: This private deposit consists of 17 items pertaining to Joseph Scicluna’s career in the Royal Engineers Fortress Malta Squadron, mostly certificates, letters and pay slips; 21 guide books and handbooks which were issued to and used during Scicluna’s training; and 65 digital surrogates of photographic material were also deposited. 1932-2021 122 Items

2024-140 Private Deposit by Paul Sammut (MEMORJA): Paul Sammut discussing his experiences as a sign language interpreter. 19502017

2024-141 Private Deposit by Norbert Gingell (MEMORJA): Norbert Gingell spoke about his career in the Malta Civil Service. 1954-2017

2024-142 Private Deposit by Louis Naudi (MEMORJA): Louis Naudi spoke about his career in the Malta Civil Service. 1954-2017

2024-143 Malta Communications Authority - Appraised Human Resources Records

2024-144 Private Deposit by Frederick Fearne (MEMORJA): Frederick Fearne spoke about his career in the Malta Civil Service. 19392017

2024-145 Private Deposit by Carmen Fearne (MEMORJA): Carmen Fearne spoke about his career in the Malta Civil Service. 1938-2018

2024-146 Private Deposit by Michael Ellul (MEMORJA): Michael Ellul spoke about his career in the Malta Civil Service. 1925-2017

2024-147 Private Deposit by Stephen Sant’Angelo (MEMORJA): Stephen Sant’Angelo spoke about his career in the Malta Civil Service. 1928-2017

MB

292 MB

2024-148 Private Deposit by Charles Micallef (MEMORJA): Charles Micallef spoke about his career in the Malta Civil Service. 1946-2017

2024-149 Private Deposit by Joseph R. Grima (MEMORJA): Joseph R. Grima spoke about his career in the Malta Civil Service. 1940-2018

2024-150 Private Deposit by Louis Cilia (MEMORJA): Louis Cilia spoke about his career in the Malta Civil Service. 1946-2017

2024-151 Private Deposit by Edward Warrington (MEMORJA): Edward Warrington spoke about his career in the Malta Civil Service. 1959-2018

2024-152 Private Deposit by Joseph Zammit (MEMORJA): Joseph Zammit spoke about his career in the Malta Civil Service. 1939-2017

2024-153

Private Deposit by Guido Baldacchino: This collection consists of a set of six photos showing scenes of a feast at Kappella TalProvidenza, limits of Siġġiewi, apparently held on 11 September 1938. To this, another set of six photos apparently showing a ceremony at Siġġiewi Parish Church, where a British serviceman joined the Catholic Church; and a group photo: third from the left is Parish Priest Francis X Mangion; second from the right is Dun Anton Vella. The blast walls indicate that the photo was shot during the Second World War. 1938

2024-154 Notary to Government (Notarial Registers Archive - NRA): Accession form to record the transfer of records to the Notarial Registers Archive, managed by the Notarial Archive Foundation, at 217 St Paul’s Street, Valletta. 1584-1927

2024-155 Notary to Government (Notarial Registers Archive - NRA): Accession form to record the transfer of records to the Notarial Registers Archive, managed by the Notarial Archive Foundation, at 217 St Paul’s Street, Valletta. 1524-2016

2024-156

Private Deposit by Anthony Michael Brown: The deposit consists of audio visual material taken by Leonard William Frederick Brown during his four years station in Malta with the Air Ministry (1958-1962).

2024-157 Private Deposit by Jeffery Sammut (MEMORJA): Memories from Ix-Xquq and Qammieħ Cliffs. Carmel (aka Karmnu) Micallef spoke about fishing with live bait for large fish. He recounted his experiences when he had had hooked large fish. He also mentioned place names and other anecdotes about them. 1945-2019

2024-158

Private Deposit by Jeffery Sammut (MEMORJA): Memories from Ix-Xquq and Qammieħ Cliffs. Ċensu recounted farming along down Irdum il-Qammieħ, how the land was tilled so that moisture was retained and also recalled traiditional place names down the cliff. He mentioned ‘il-kelb tal-fenek’ (Maltese pharoah hound) and ferrets. Ċensu remembered duck and turtledove hunting in the area as well. 1937-2019

12 items

81 Vol

190 Vol

4.69 GB

530 MB

177 MB

Accession

2024-159 Private Deposit by Jeffery Sammut (MEMORJA): Memories from Ix-Xquq and Qammieħ Cliffs. Alfred Vella ‘Iċ-Ċalapus’ recounted how everyday life was during and after the Second World War in Mellieħa. He then talked about Ix-Xquq and how he used to go fishing. 1934-2019

2024-160 Private Deposit by Ġanni Grima ‘Il-Ħnax’ (MEMORJA): Memories from Ix-Xquq and Qammieħ Cliffs. Ġanni Grima recounts his life as a fisherman at Anchor Bay. He recalls some of the stories mentioned by his father. He mentions traditional fishing methods and also fishing down the cliff face. He also mentions other characters who frequented the place and the changes the film set brought about to the once quiet place. 1946-2019

2024-161 Private Deposit by John Vella ‘Is-Sigarett’ (MEMORJA): Memories from Ix-Xquq and Qammieħ Cliffs. John Vella recounted how hunting at Qammieħ was in the past. He mentioned several incidents where other hunters had tried to scare newcomers so as to keep them away from their hunting grounds. He also recalled hunting during his teenage years and he also mentoned the remains of a Second World War-era aircraft at Ras ilQammieħ. 1943-2019

2024-162 Private Deposit by Joseph Camilleri ‘il-Baqrambun’(MEMORJA): Memories from Ix-Xquq and Qammieħ Cliffs. Joseph Camilleri describes everyday down the cliff face at Anchor Bay. He spoke mainly about fishing, in addition to turtle dove trapping. He also mentioned Gozitan fishermen who used to stay overnight at Popeye village and who would then sell their catch at Mellieħa or Selmun. 1930-2019

2024-163 Private deposit by Ġużi Cutajar ‘Ta Żumini’ (MEMORJA): Ġużi Cutajar discussed fishing at Ix-Xquq and how he used to work as a tile maker. 1944-2019

2024-164 Private Deposit by Joseph Cini ‘il-Bajjadon’ (MEMORJA): Joseph Cini was interviewed about his fishing and hunting experiences at Ix-Xquq and il-Qammieħ. He also recounted some of his father’s stories, including about the tunny net at id-Delli. 19442019

2024-165 Private Deposit by Joseph Borg ‘Ta’ Kolin’ (MEMORJA): As a lifelong farmer, Joseph Borg recounted his experiences of farming at il-Qammieħ and Irdum il-Qammieħ hunting ducks, woodcock, turtledoves and rabbits. He also listed placenames of sites at the same cliff face. 1950-2019

2024-166 Private Deposit by Rita Vella Brincat: The Carmel Ellul Vincenti Collection - The deposits consist of correspondence, newspaper cuttings, invitations, business cards and ephemera related to the MBE award of Fr. Carmel Ellul Vincenti (OFM). 1938-2024

243 MB

299 MB

147 MB

147

122 MB

247 MB

244 MB

n/a

2024-167

2024-168

2024-169

Private Deposit by Alfred Bezzina (MEMORJA): Fred Bezzina, who’s eldest daughter is hearing-impaired, speaks about his experiences with the deaf community. 1952-2024

Private Deposit by Joseph Scerri (MEMORJA): Joseph Scerri was interviewed about his experiences during the Second World War and about his employment at HM Dockyard and its successive industries between 1943-1987.

Private Deposit by Edward Galea (MEMORJA): Edward Galea spoke about his wartime experiences as a young novice with the Lasallian Brothers in Nazi-occupied France during WW2. 19242021

2024-170 Private Deposit by Lina Brockdorff (MEMORJA): Lina Brockdorff discussed numerous topics, from refugees, sanitation, hunger and death to issues concerning solidarity and kindness. From when the first bombs were dropped over the Islands to the Italian surrender in 1943, she provided the viewpoint of a terrified child surrounded by terror and the possibility of death being everpresent. 1930-2021

2024-171 Private Deposit by Helen Bezzina (MEMORJA): Helen Bezzina was interviewed about her experiences in dealing with her eldest daughter’s deafness from birth. 1952-2024

2024-172 Transfer from the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality: Appraised Human Resources Records. Expired personal and recruitment files. Records have been appraised under the provisions of the Human Resources records - “Data Protection Public Administration Human Resources Corporate Procedures” issued by the People & Standards Division (Office of the Prime Minister).

2024-173 Commerce Department - Legacy Records. Inc. Ministry for Economic Services; Ministry of Agriculture, Power and Communications, Ministry of Development; Ministry of Development, Energy, Port and Telecommunications; Ministry of Industrial Development and Tourism; Ministry of Industry; Ministry of Parastatal and People’s Investment; Ministry of Trade; Ministry of Trade and Agriculture; Ministry of Trade, Industry and Parastatal and People’s Industries; Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism, Aids to Industrial Board; Ministry of Trade, Industry, Agriculture and Tourism; Office of the Prime Minister; Department of Industry; Department of Industry- Standards Laboratory; Department of Trade and Industry; Department of Trade; Malta Development Corporation; Parliamentary Secretary for Industry; Malta’s participation in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. 1950s-2000s

2024-174 Private Deposit by Annabelle Xerri (MEMORJA): Annabelle Xerri recounted her life experiences as an individual who is hard of hearing. 1980-2024

2 files (sample)

180 linear metres

6.58 MB

2024-175 Private Deposit by Brian Brincat (MEMORJA): Brian Brincat spoke about the impact the effects of the Thalidomide pill, prescribed to his mother when she was pregnant, had had on his upbringing. 1956-2024

2024-176 Private Deposit by Marlene Sant (MEMORJA): Marlene Sant spoke about the impact the effects of the Thalidomide pill, prescribed to her mother when she was pregnant, had on her upbringing. 1961-2024

2024-177 Private Deposit by Joann Spiteri (MEMORJA) 1980-2024 3.96

2024-178 Private Deposit by Joe & Kelina Spiteri (MEMORJA): Joe and Kelina Spiteri spoke about their experiences as deaf persons in Malta. 2024

2024-179 Private Deposit by Mary Josephine Grech (MEMORJA): Mary Josephine Grech spoke about the products her parents used to cultivate in their fields and the recipes they made use of for the family’s meals. 1964-2019

2024-180 Private Deposit by Matthew Buttigieg (MEMORJA): Matthew Buttigieg spoke about his family’s culinary traditions. 1991-2019

2024-181 Private Deposit by Karmenu Azzopardi (MEMORJA): Karmenu Azzopardi spoke about his childhood in wartime Rabat. 19272024

2024-182 Ministry For Health And Active Ageing (MHA): Records consisting of various subjects from the Department for Health Head Office, mostly general files and medical procedures. 1956-1960

2024-183 Private Deposit by Joan Cassar (MEMORJA): Joan Cassar was interviewed on how the Thalidomide drug had impacted her life. 1961-204

2024-184 Private Deposit by Veronica Galea: Film reels containing footage from film ‘I’m Furious - Red’ by Cecil Satariano 1970.

2024-185 Private Deposit by Mario Buhagiar: Unpublished student dissertations and research.

mins.

linear metre

2024-186 Purchase of Published Material from William Zammit: Description of volume: “L’arrivo e l’accoglienza nell’isola del Gozo di Mons Michele F. Buttigieg Vescovo di Lita, Deputato Ausiliare del Vescovo di Malta Mons Gaetano Pace Forno per quell’isola. Reduce da Roma dopo la sua Consagrazione 1863. Tipografia di Giuseppe Micallef Strada Ospedale No. 73 (Malta).” 26 pages + dust cover

2024-187 Identità: Passport Applications for Maltese Citizens. (Type 1/ Type 2/ Type 3/ Type 5). All applications for 1998 (missing from NAM) and 1999. Sample of applications. 1998-2009 24 linear meters

2024-188 Malta Police Force: Transfer of these European Arrest Warrants appraised in line with REP2024-18_(V.2), Section 7: Information processed by the International Relations Unit. 1951

2024-189 Private Deposit by Doris Venturi (MEMORJA):Doris Venturi spoke about her Second World War-era experiences as a refugee in Rabat and Paola. 1932-2024

2024-190 Air Malta: This Public Transfer relates to the Maltese airline ‘Air Malta’. The accession includes several photographic prints, slides and negative film that cover the airline’s growth throughout the years. It also includes paper records, most prominently the airline’s meeting minutes and indexes with descriptions relating to most of the photographic prints transferred. 1973-2017 20 linear metres

2024-191 Private Deposit by Anton Attard (Memorija): Anton Attard recounted his childhood memories of Vittoriosa, the devastation of the Second World War on buildings and the British presence in the area. Anton mentioned a substantial number of cultural heritage buildings and other important buildings for the community of the Three Cities. 1936 - 2019

2024-192 Private Deposit by Joseph Brincat (Memorija): One MEMORJA interview conducted with Joseph Brincat carried out on 4 February 2019. The interview covers Joseph’s childhood and wartime experiences in the Three Cities. He described the pre and post-war economical and social situation in the Three Cities and how the landscape has changed since then. 1931-2019

2024-193 Digital Surrogates of the drawings of the Television Headquarters Gwardamanġa and the Television Transmitter Għargħur. 1960s

2024-194 Private Deposit by an anonymous source: This private deposit consists of family photos, including some of an individual’s career in the Royal Air Force (Luqa) 1950-1970.

2024-195 Private Deposit by Adam Polidano and Anthony Cassar (MEMORJA). A news report about how the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting the fashion industry. This is the work submitted as part of the exam for the media course at MCAST. Besides the importance of the feature’s content, the nature of assessment reflects the way it had to be adapted according to social distancing restrictions implemented at the time.

2024-196 Private Deposit by Adam Polidano (MEMORJA) A collection of photos showing various localities devoid of people and activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the work submitted by Adam Polidano as part of the exam for his media course at MCAST 2020.

2024-197 Private Deposit by Chloe Cachia and Kimberly Gwen Buhagiar (MEMORJA). A news broadcast on the plans and flights which were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the work submitted as part of the exam for the media course at MCAST. Besides the importance of the feature’s content, the nature of assessment reflects the way it had to be adapted according to social distancing restrictions implemented at the time 2020.

55 prints

105 MB

998 MB

104 MB

2024-198 Private Deposit by Patrick Spiteri and Denise Micallef (MEMORJA). A news feature about MCAST students during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the work submitted as part of the exam for the media course at MCAST. Besides the importance of the feature’s content, the nature of assessment reflects the way it had to be adapted according to social distancing restrictions implemented at the time 2020.

2024-199 Private Deposit by Kian Bugeja and Jahel Azzopardi (MEMORJA). A news feature about how people were coping indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The work was submitted as part of the exam for their media course at MCAST. Besides the importance of the feature’s content, the nature of assessment reflects the way it had to be adapted according to social distancing restrictions implemented at the time 2020.

2024-200 Private Deposit by Henry Frendo (MEMORJA).These two interviews focused on Henry Frendo’s life, various key events and his personal opinions on certain topics. Among others, he discussed the following: his childhood in Floriana, his education, activism, the persecution of his brother Dr Michael Frendo, journalism, his work abroad, his life in Attard, personal views on several aspects (e.g. politics, history vs journalism) 1948-2024.

2024-201 Private Deposit by Rosemarie Calleja (MEMORJA) on the theme of COVID-19 Pandemic Memory Project. During the first interview, Rosemarie Calleja discussed her COVID-19 experience as a Senior Media Lecturer at MCAST. Change was immediate so she had to adapt in a very short amount of time. Lectures had to be shifted online and timetables had to be adjusted. There were also short periods during the pandemic when MCAST had reopened; during these periods, various measures were being implemented onsite, such as the use of sanitisers and the practice of social distancing in lecture rooms (e.g. use of partitions). During her second interview, Rosemarie spoke about her unique experience of going abroad to Venice during the COVID-19 pandemic. She described the measures taken at the airports and inside the airplanes. In addition, Ms Calleja gives an account of the places she visited. She emphasises how she had never seen anything like it; all places were empty and devoid of people and activity. For her, going abroad during the pandemic was a very surreal experience 1973-2024.

2024-202

169 MB

169 MB

Private Deposit by Josph P. Spiteri. Digital photographs of Gozo featuring views, events, people, projects, villages and traditions taken by photographer Joseph P. Zammit since his return to Gozo from Canada in 2002 to date. Collection includes also photographs related to various Gozitan subjects taken by other photographers in the 1960’s and 1970’s. 1960-2024 1.2 TB

THE ALBERT GANADO PERSONAL PAPERS COLLECTION

On 8 March 2024 we celebrated Dr Albert Ganado’s 100th birthday. We are grateful for his great contribution to our country and recall his commitment towards the National Archives and their development. In fact, Dr Ganado was chairman of the National Archives Advisory Committee as well as the first chairman of the National Archives Council following the setting up at law of the National Archives in 2005.

During 2024 Dr Ganado and his family have donated an impressive and unique set of records from his personal collection to the National Archives. These documents, that run into almost 30 metres of shelving, include his vast research in almost all aspects of Malta’s artistic, social and political life, focussing mostly on the last 500 years. They also complement other records acquired by the National Archives from Dr Ganado such

Overleaf:

A unique record from the Albert Ganado Personal Papers Collection: a pamphlet (in Maltese) related to the first election for a governing body ever held in Malta.

Voting took place between 10 and 14 August 1849. Franchise was extended to men aged over 21, versed in either Italian or English, who either owned land or property of an annual value of 100 scudi or paid an annual rent of 50 scudi.

3,056 men voted in Malta and 259 in Gozo.

The first elected members were: Giuseppe Pulis Montebello, Rev. Filippo Amato, Michelangelo Scerri, Rev. Annetto Casolani, Rev. Leopoldo Fiteni, Dr Arcangelo Pullicino, Giovanni Battista Vella, and Dr Adriano Dingli (for Gozo). Among the unsuccessful candidates were the well-known patriots Camillo Sceberras and Giorgio Mitrovich who had worked hard in the process leading to the 1849 Constitution that provided for this election.

Dr. Albert Ganado (first right), at the inauguration of the National Archives at Santu Spirtu, Rabat, 28 May 1994

as the Adriano Dingli papers, the Bonavita family records, the Alfred Gerada caricature collection, etc.

Moreover, the Ganado family donated original documents related to Malta’s political and constitutional development from the last

years of the Knight’s stay in Malta, the French years (1798-1800) and the British period. Inter alia, these include the records of the Comitato Generale Maltese, an assembly that promoted and struggled for Malta’s political and constitutional rights during the 19th century.

This donation is also shaped by and reflects Dr Albert Ganado’s activities in Malta’s political life during the latter half of the 20th century. Initially forming part of the Partit Nazzjonalista he was instrumental in setting up its youth arm. In the late 50s and early sixties he had serious divergences of opinion with Dr Giorgio Borg Olivier. He joined the newly-set-up Partit Demokratiku Nazzjonalista, a new party led by his cousin, Herbert Ganado. Eventually he walked away from politics. Dr Ganado’s collection include an impressive number of records related to the proposed integration between Malta and the United Kingdom (1950s) and the run up to Independence in 1964.

We reiterate our deep gratitude to Dr Albert Ganado and his family for this unique donation, an erudite, vast and eclectic collection in so many things Maltese. Thank you.

A telegram, 27 March 1956, from Victor (presumably Ragonesi) to Albert Ganado following the results of the Integration Referendum (11-12 February 1956). It refers to the upcoming British Prime Minister’s Anthony Eden’s statement in the House of Comments (28 March 1956) on the prospects of integration between Malta and the UK following the referendum. Albert Ganado Personal Papers Collection.

1949 Marriage photo with Muriel neè Orr

A telegram, 4 December 1963, from the administration of the Partit Demokratiku Nazzjonalista to Ganado (presumably the cousins Herbert and Albert, the Leader and the General Secretary of the PDN) while they were in London to discuss with Colonial Secretary Duncan Sandys the prospects of Malta’s independence. Albert Ganado Personal Papers Collection.

The Albert Ganado Personal Papers Collection include unique records related to Malta’s political development between the end of WW2 and Independence in 1964.

During 1957 the Partit Nazzjonalista suffered a split which led to the formation of the Partit Demokratiku Nazzjonalista. The same thing happened in 1961 to the Partit tal-Ħaddiema from which emerged the Partit Ħaddiema Nsara. This letter from PĦN secretary Anthony Sammut to PDN Secretary Albert Ganado, dated 15 October 1963, is related to the attempt by these small parties to merge into a larger political entity. Albert Ganado Personal Papers Collection.

2ARCHIVAL PROCESSING UNIT

A Cataloguing Lab Session with students reading for the MA in Archives and Records Management at the University of Malta, 16 May 2024.

Overleaf: One of the oldest legal processes from the Knights’ Period (1530-1798). At the end of April 1531, a few months after the arrival of the Knights in Malta, Giovanni Lando Dimech accused Nardo Farrugia, son of Theramo, of attacking his own young son Giovanni by throwing stones at him and causing him serious injuries. This attack occurred in the area of Casal Sigeui (Siġġiewi). The writing style is that generally found in Malta at this time, although this style of writing was already out of fashion in Europe. The case was heard in Mdina before the Governor of the Notabile, but there is still no reference to the Curia Capitanalis, the official name of the court in Mdina. NAM LCM Box 001 Doc. 02 (fols. 007-016)

The Archival Processing Unit (APU) ensures that following their transfer to the National Archives of Malta, records of national significance and enduring historical value are described, preserved, and made accessible to all those who seek them.

PROCESSING

Collections which are being processed

Fonds/Subfonds Task Boxes and Files

ARP: Air Raid Precautions

EDU 02

Cleaning, sorting, labelling, changing covers and boxes 58 boxes

Cleaning and removal of metal inserts 100 files

MFH: Medical Records transferred from St. Vincent De Paul Re-organisation 412 volumes

MIG po Cleaning and removal of metal inserts 5,557 files

POL-HQ-CRF: Central Registry Files Cleaning, sorting, and re-housing 121 boxes

POL-03: Paola Police Station Labelling and re-organisation 32 volumes

POL-05A: Żurrieq Police Station Cleaning, sorting, and labelling 118 boxes

POL-07: Ħamrun Police Station Re-organisation 8 boxes

POL: Ħaż-Żebbuġ Police Station Cleaning and re-housing 29 boxes

Total 334 boxes and 6,101 files

FINDING AIDS AND CATALOGUES

Fonds/Subfonds/Series Entries Progress

Building Notices (digitalising of indexes – 1907-1912) 8,056 Ongoing

Building Notices (digitalising of indexes – 1907-1949) 7,850 Ongoing

CAD - Querele 15 Paused

CMD-01-PAT (Patents) 24 Finalised

CMD-01-DSN (Designs) 31 Finalised

CMD-01-TRD (Trademarks)

Finalised

CMD-02-01 (Department of Trade) 1,192 Finalised

(Comitato Permanente Universitario)

(1900)

(1912)

CSG-01 (1914)

CSG-01 (1947)

CSG-01 (1948)

CSG-01 (1949)

CSG-01 (1950)

CSG-01 (1951)

(1952)

(1967)

Emanuele Sciortino Collection

– Guljana Bartoli

Nani Collection

Eddie Fenech Adami Collection

PDE_0036 Lawrence Gonzi Collection

PDE_0047-01-DRW-02 The Giuseppe Galea Collection (part of)

Żurrieq Police Station

Medical Records transferred from St. Vincent De Paul

Ongoing

Ongoing

Ongoing

/ 03 / 04

Commerce Department (CMD) Fonds

Between 2020 and 2024 the lapsed Patents, the expired Designs, the expired Trademarks, and the Department of Trade files were transferred to NAM sorted in archival boxes, labelled, and with a list of all the records. This enabled us to swiftly assemble a catalogue and make the records available for research.

This year, we catalogued the expired Trademarks and made them available to researchers for the first time. In addition, the catalogue related to the Patents (1,136 items)

was imported onto our online catalogue (AtoM) to give further accessibility. The catalogue of the Department of Trade files transferred to NAM in 2020, and another batch transferred in November of 2024 (total of 12, 728) were also uploaded to our online database and access to the public was given to those files which have surpassed 30 years from date of creation (as per the National Archives Act). This catalogue is being updated every year to add new files which have surpassed 30 years since the date of creation and can thus be opened to the public.

During the Volunteering Group Project to archivally process records transferred from the Malta Police Force. July 2024.

In 2024, 1236 boxes were transferred to NAM (Accession 2024-173) from the Commerce Department. These are being processed with the aim of having them available for research by end of 2025. In a bid to discover the provenance of these records and what preceded the Commerce Department, a lot of research was undertaken, and the Authority Records for the Department of Trade and Industry (1955-1964) and the Department of Trade (1964-2001) were created. This information will provide researchers with a sound context for these records.

Comitato Permanente Universitario (CPU) Fonds

The Comitato Permanente Universitario was set up by Arturo Mercieca (later Chief Justice Sir Arturo Mercieca) in 1901 as the student union of the University of Malta. In 1935, the British colonial administration dissolved the Comitato Permanente Universitario and as a result, their records were fragmented. Some of them found a safe home with Albert Ganado’s, 1924- . The records which the NAM acquisitioned through the Friends of the National Archives of Malta (FNAM) are those which were at Albert Ganado’s residence (Accession 2024-010).

This Fonds is made up of meeting minutes and correspondence of the Comitato Permanente Universitario. It also includes a sizeable collection of publications related to the life and operations of the University of Malta from the late 18th century. With the assistance of Xenia Xuereb, a student at the Institute for Education who carried out a placement at NAM, the APU finalised the sorting and cataloguing process of this accession. Minor preventive measures were also taken such as removing metal staplers from the booklet bindings and replacing them with cotton string. These records shall be made available for research in 2025.

Electoral Office (ELO) Fonds

The Electoral Office provides the administrative machinery and resources needed by the Electoral Commission to fulfil its obligations according to law, including the registration, transfer, and cancellation of voters and for the organization of elections. So far, the NAM has received records from the Registry Section of the Electoral Office categorized as the General Office Files (ELO01-01). These were transferred already sorted, listed, and in archival quality boxes which enabled us to swiftly assemble a catalogue and make the records available for research. This year an additional 443 records were catalogued and made available for research.

Malta Police Force (POL)

Police Headquarters Records (1930s –1960s) - Central Registry

We continued processing the Malta Police Force files which were transferred from the Central Registry (Segreterija) of the Police Headquarters to the National Archives in 2014 (Accession 2014-024). There were about 22 linear metres of files which needed to be cleaned, have metal inserts removed and be sorted chronologically. In the summer of 2024 greater efforts were made to process this large accession by making a public call for volunteers. For two weeks several volunteers joined NAM archivists and conservators in cleaning, removing metal inserts, and sorting these police records chronologically. Other sessions were held a few weeks later to

During the Volunteering Group Project to archivally process records transferred from the Malta Police Force. July 2024.

continue sorting all the records which were cleaned and creating a catalogue for them so as to make them available for research as soon as possible. So far about 17.2 linear metres of files have been cleaned, sorted, and re-housed.

Ħaż-Żebbuġ Police Station Records

In 2024, we started processing the Malta Police Force records which were transferred from the Ħaż-Żebbuġ Police Station to the

National Archives in 2021 (Accession 2021121). These records are related to the towns of Ħaż-Żebbuġ and Siġġiewi. The accession consists of 5 linear metres of records which were cleaned, had metal inserts removed, rehoused, and labelled.

Żurrieq Police Station Records

Joseph Amodio, Assistant Archivist, started sorting, re-housing, and cataloguing the records which were transferred from the Żurrieq Police Station in 2013 (2013-008). Although these records had already been accessible to the public, the lack of catalogue made it harder to access. The work being carried out will eventually make it easier for researchers to access these records.

Guljana Bartoli (GBA)

In 2024 the Guljana Bartoli was acquisitioned by NAM (Accession 2024-051) to add to NAM’s growing collection of records related to family history and strengthen research possibilities for Maltese genealogy. This Guljana is made up of 31 volumes (volume 23 is missing and was not transferred to NAM) which includes indexes, family trees, and information about guspatronati of persons baptised in Malta. Thanks to NAM volunteer Anthony Cesare, cataloguing efforts started towards the end of 2024 and will continue in 2025.

Volunteer Twanny Mifsud working on the catalouging of the Chief Secretary to Government records from the year 1900.

The Giuseppe Galea Collection (PDE_0047)

The Giuseppe Galea Collection was deposited at the NAM by the Galea family in 2023 and 2024 (Accessions: 2023-052 and 2024-05-22). Last year the entire design collection (1,800 designs) was digitised, and this year work on their sorting and cataloguing started. Priority was given to the designs which are to be transferred to the NAM, Gozo Archive so as to keep uniformity and consistency within the same collection housed at two different repositories. In addition, the APU collaborated with NAVI to develop a schema on how to divide and subdivide this collection for cataloguing purposes since it also includes audio-visual material.

Law Courts Miscellanea

In August 2024, Samuel Azzopardi, a Latinist and Palaeographer, resumed work on the cataloguing of the Law Courts Miscellanea (LCM) collection, which project had been temporarily paused in July 2023.

The Law Courts Miscellanea fonds is a collection of loose documents pertaining to different Courts that operated in Malta between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. The ongoing process of cataloguing is currently focused on documentation from the duration of the rule of the Order of St John in Malta (1530-1798) which alone comprises 665 boxes of documentation.

The documentation in these boxes derives predominantly from the Magna Curia Castellania, the main court at the time and which operated from Valletta, but documentation from the many other courts and tribunals functioning in Malta at the time, such as the Curia Capitanalis, Tribunal Armamentorum and Curia Gubernatorialis, among others, is also represented.

Sorting and Cataloguing Process

The sorting and cataloguing process involves dividing the documentation in each box according to the court or magistracy of provenance, sorting the documentation per court according to date (when provided), foliating the documents for ease of future reference and generating a database with an item-level description for the items in this collection. The cataloguing process also included the creation of new Authority Records for persons, families, and corporate bodies not yet accounted for on NAM’s online database. This was a new exercise introduced in this resumed process of cataloguing of the LCM collection.

Since the collection has already been used and referenced in published research it was decided not to re-box documentation according to court of provenance but to simply separate the documentation

within the box. The documentation within these boxes will then be integrated with the other documentation from the same court of provenance by means of digital reconstruction.

Progress

Previous work on this collection between May 2021 and July 2023 resulted in the cataloguing of the documents in 39 boxes containing 2,050 items (totalling 23,777 folios). Over the past 4 months, an additional 17 boxes containing 1,031 items have been catalogued, spanning another 10,512 folios.

While the previous cataloguing effort focused exclusively on the 18th century, this year the project focused on sample cataloguing of documentation from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.

Catalogued Boxes

In December, the APU resolved to pause the item-level cataloguing of the collection to focus metadata collection at box level of the collection from the 16th century in order to prepare this part of the collection for potential digitisation. Of 48 boxes containing documentation from the 16th century, 7 boxes have already been processed in this manner.

Accessibility

The item-level catalogues for the boxes catalogued this year (nos. 10-12, 140-147, 185-187 and 278-319) have been uploaded to AtoM for ease of access together with the access points and authority records generated for the persons, families, and corporate bodies mentioned within them.

Future Plans

The plan for 2025 is to complete the boxlevel description of the remaining 39 boxes of documentation from the 16th century and to continue with the item-level description of boxes with documentation from all three centuries of the Order of St John’s rule of the Maltese Islands, making each completed catalogue available to researchers via AtoM. Additionally, the item-level catalogues for boxes 278-319 will be revised to include missing information and details.

DIGITISATION OF PAPER RECORDS

The below is a list of the digitisation efforts undertaken in 2024 by the Maps and Drawings section, several members of staff, students, and volunteers.

MFH – Registers of Admissions & Discharges – Trachoma (Vols. 161, 281, 290)

PDM Fonds: St. Maria Addolorata Cemetery, H.M. Dockyard underground Power Station, Underground Oil Fuel Storage (Ħas-Saptan to the Grand Harbour), Dr. Edwin Mintoff’s 1998 “Port Cottonera”, etc.

– Register of Births (1904-1912)

- Żurrieq Police Station - Occurance Book 1906-1907

- Items 1-5 (Żurrieq Police Station - Application Registers)

Ancestry

Following the signing of an agreement with Ancestry to start the digitisation of the Guljana Letard-Ciantar (GLC) on the 9th of February 2024, NAM coordinated logistics to kick-start this project. In June 2024, two representatives from Ancestry came to NAM to set-up their equipment and sample the digitisation process. In August, Skye Vassallo joined the Ancestry team and started working on the foliation and digitisation of this collection. So far 70,046 images have been captured. The APU has been overseeing the process and assisting Skye whenever queries or issues crop-up. The GLC catalogue is also being updated following Skye’s progress with foliation.

CURATION OF DIGITAL RECORDS

Since the IT Unit have been updating NAM’s digital infrastructure and data storage solution, the APU has been overseeing and managing the transfer of large instalments of digital records which have been accumulated over the years. This is to ensure that all borndigital and digitised material created and managed by this Unit is well maintained and digitally preserved for the future.

INITIATIVES AND POLICIES

Authority Records

Following last years’ start on the creation of NAM’s Authority Records, this year this Unit has made significant progress. Together with the NAVI, 297 Authority Records were created in 2024 and they can all be found on NAM’s online catalogue and linked to the records to which they are related (whether as creators or as referenced elements). Up until 2023, the creation of Authority Records had not yet been aligned with international standards and a lot of repetitions and mistakes were found.

Therefore, a clean-up exercise commenced in 2024 and will continue in 2025.

In the meantime, the APU is collaborating with the Department of Library Information, and Archive Sciences (DLIAS) on a Manual for the creation of Authority Records to further streamline the process.

Online Catalogue

Last year NAM signed a support and maintenance agreement with Artefactual Systems Inc. As part of the agreement, this year Artefactual upgraded NAM’s cataloguing software, ICA-AtoM (Access to Memory), and safely migrated all the data on the Internal Site. The APU and the IT Unit worked closely to oversee this process, identified the best solutions for NAM and our researchers, and made sure that no data was lost during migration. The migration was successful and in the second half of 2024 the staff could resume cataloguing and accessioning records on the software. In addition, the public site of the catalogue (www.arkivji.org. mt) was also set up and previous issues that were cropping up with the older version of the software were eliminated. In 2025, the Public Site shall be undergoing an update to have a customised homepage for NAM and become more user friendly for our researchers.

In the meantime, Zvetlana Pace Cassar, Archivist, underwent specialized training by Artefactual to use the software to its full potential for the benefit of the Archive and researchers. Part of the training focused on the bulk import of excel catalogues onto the software. This enabled the availability of 15,781 new units of description (for paper records) on NAM’s online catalogue in 2024. The training was also passed on to other NAM Units and Sections who are now also bulk uploading excel catalogues on the online catalogue (AtoM).

Towards the end of 2024, Jakob Kuhn joined the NAM as an intern as part of his studies at the University of Public Administration and Finance in Ludwigsburg, Germany. One of his tasks was to assist in the preparation of excel catalogues for bulk imports on AtoM.

COLLABORATION AGREEMENT WITH ANCESTRY

On 9th February 2024, the National Archives of Malta and Ancestry signed a collaboration agreement that will lead to the development of family search services at our archives. Ancestry, is one of the leaders in genealogical services and collaborates with several national archives, including the British, Canadian, Danish, Australian and American archives.

In line with this agreement, Ancestry is creating a digital copy of the Ġuliana Letard-Ciantar, a very extensive collection of genealogical notes about births, marriages and deaths in Malta, acquired by the National Archives in 2020. Ancestry will also create an index of the collection.

Civil registration of births, marriages and deaths started in Malta in 1863 with the setting up of the Public Registry (Malta) and thus Maltese Ġuliani, covering earlier periods, rely on the parish registers. In 1547, Pope Paul III ordered each parish in the Catholic Church to register baptisms, marriages and burials. The Ġuljana Letard-Ciantar is one of the foremost Maltese ones and is made up of more than 800 volumes. It goes back to 1400 and besides information form parish records about baptisms, marriages and burials, it also includes notarial deeds, wills, donations, legacies, nobility titles and other documents.

While all documents will remain the property of the National Archives, the data of the Ġuljana Letard Ciantar will be incorporated within a global genealogical research infrastructure that will be available free of charge at our Reading Rooms.

The digitisation process started in July; each item is being photographed while ensuring all information is as clear and accessible as possible. Before each item is imaged, it is also foliated.

The physical nature of the collection, that varies from item to item and made up of both whole bound volumes and loose sheets of paper presents certain challenges. Constant communication with archivists and conservators, as well as Ancestry representatives, is kept so as to ensure both the best possible handling of documents as well as the optimal quality of the images created.

Between July and December 2024, over 70,000 images have been produced.

With his IT background he created a script that will make it easier and faster for NAM Archivists to transfer the excel catalogues into CSV files. The plan for 2025 is to have all

Imported excel catalogues on AtoM Fonds

excel catalogues NAM has accumulated so far available online, and thanks to Jakob this target is more likely to be reached.

CSG-01 Departmental Files 1900 Vol. 41-51 1,037

LCM 16th-18th century Box 10-12; 140-147; 185-187; 317 880

CMD-01-PAT Patents

CMD-02-DT Department of Trade 1955-2001

Catalogues exported, edited, and reimported on AtoM

A special thanks goes to all the volunteers and students who have helped us clean, sort, rehouse and catalogue the various collections mentioned above.

Students

Xenia Xuereb Institute for Education Cataloguing the Comitato Permanente Universitario (CPU) Fonds; Cleaning the ĦażŻebbuġ Police Station records

Jakob Khun University of Public Administration and Finance in Ludwigsburg, Germany

CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Created scripts to assist archivists in transforming excel catalogues into CSV file templates to be uploaded on AtoM; created a script to merge digitized images into PDFs with the NAM logo and at a lower resolution to be uploaded on AtoM.

· From the 29th of January till the 2nd of February Zvetlana Pace Cassar attended the Winter School in Archival Studies held in Florence, titled ‘Malta and the Order of St John in Europe (16th-18th centuries). Documents, People, Institutions’.

· Training on Genealogical research in Malta.

Training by Artefactual on AtoM (NAM’s cataloguing software).

· Introductory Latin Course with the Malta Classics Association.

· First-Aid Course.

ORGANIZATIONS, EVENTS, AND OUTREACH

E-RIHS.mt

E-RIHS.mt is the Maltese node of the European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science, E-RIHS. The main aim of E-RIHS.mt is to protect Cultural Heritage by seeking to facilitate the standardized connection of local heritage and heritage science communities to state-of-the-art facilities and technologies across Europe through the four E-RIHS access platforms: FIXLAB, MOLAB, ARCHLAB and DIGILAB. The National Archives of Malta is a partner to the Maltese node. Zvetlana Pace Cassar is the representative on the Steering Committee for the National Node which was assembled last year.

15 April 2024: Zvetlana Pace Cassar presented the cataloguing and processing of material deposited within the MEMORJA project during the Heritage Malta Research Seminar.

· 22 – 26 April 2024: Zvetlana Pace Cassar sat as an observer for the E-RIHS Pilot Training School.

· 16 May 2024: The APU organised a Cataloguing Lab session with students reading for the MA in Archives and Records Management at the Department of Library Information, and Archive Sciences (DLIAS), University of Malta.

· 17 May 2024: Zvetlana Pace Cassar participated in a half day seminar with several academics from the cultural heritage sector aimed at stimulating a discussion and foster joint research pathways around the concepts of Postcolonialism and Decolonisation organised by DLIAS.

· 19 June 2024: Zvetlana Pace Cassar had an interview on One Breakfast regarding the process of transferring records to the National Archives, archival processing them and making them available for the public.

· July - September: The APU organised Volunteering Group Projects to speed-up the archival process with the Malta Police Files.

NAM Staff in Florence for the Winter School in Archival Studies

A Cataloguing Lab session for the students following the LIS3111-Advanced Archival Description unit at University of Malta. 24 October 2024.

10 October 2024: The APU hosted a visit for students following the LIA5029Historical private and family archives unit at the University of Malta (UM).

· 14 October 2024: Lecture at UM for students following the LIS1211Introduction to Records and Archives unit.

24 October 2024: The APU hosted a Cataloguing Lab session for the students following the LIS3111-Advanced Archival Description unit at UM.

21 November 2024: During the Godfrey Wettinger Memorial Lecture Samuel Azzopardi and Zvetlana Pace Cassar presented the archival process and analysis they did in regard to the Secret Wills opened after 150 years.

· 24 November 2024: Samuel Azzopardi and Zvetlana Pace Cassar were interviewed by Noel D’Anastas on the radio programme Mill-Arkivji where they discussed the archival processing of the LCM Fonds and making the catalogue available for research online.

Palaeographer Samuel Azzopardi discussing the contents of the Secret Wills that were opened for research in 2024.

Dr Valeria Vanesio and the students following the LIS3111-Advanced Archival Description unit at the University of Malta at the Central Archive for a Cataloguing Lab session with Archivist Zvetlana Pace Cassar.

3COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT UNIT

Overleaf: Records ready for transfer to private repository.

Above: Barcoding of archival boxes on site at originating office.

A new unit was established in 2024 to manage the extensive records held by the National Archives across various locations. The holdings of the National Archives are currently spread across eight different repositories, six in Malta and two in Gozo:

• Central Archive (Rabat)

• Courts and Tribunals Archive (Mdina)

• Notarial Registers Archive (Valletta)

• Ospizio Repository (Floriana)

• Secondary Offsite Repository (Ħal Far)

• Rentastore Records Centre and Vaults – A private repository (L-Imrieħel)

• Gozo Archive (Rabat, Gozo)

• Gozo Offsite Repository (Għarb)

By the end of 2023, all archives and repositories under the direct responsibility of the National Archives (NAM) were at full capacity. This situation resulted in the postponement of major accessions, thereby delaying the availability of records of enduring value for research. Consequently, following internal discussions, the National Archives management decided to explore the possibility of renting appropriate storage space from private entities.

To this end, a Public Market Consultation (PMC) was published during the summer of 2024. The PMC facilitated the identification of a company capable of meeting all the requirements set by the NAM. Once the process was concluded in accordance with procurement regulations, a company was identified, and a contract was signed during the final quarter of 2024.

Through this process, the NAM had to revise and include new procedures in the accessioning process. The contracted company is obliged to fulfil its contractual obligations, including the timely delivery of records upon request. This requirement necessitated that all archival boxes be barcoded to ensure they are accounted for in the company’s system and can be retrieved as needed. The barcoding process is now part of NAM’s internal procedures, with several officers entrusted with this task.

The initiative to rent additional archival space is also allowing the National Archives to decongest current repositories and process records more efficiently, making them available to our clients sooner.

Barcoding of archival boxes at the National Archives’ offsite repository.

Barcoding of archival boxes at the National Archives’ offsite repository.

Delivery of records at offsite repository.

SECRET WILLS: A SECRET NO MORE

Zvetlana Pace Cassar • Samuel Azzopardi • Lindsay Galea

During 2024, the National Archives of Malta concluded the archival work related to the opening, conservation and processing of 232 secret wills drawn up in Malta between 1693 and 1869. This project started in 2023 following a request by the Law Courts and the Notary to Government Office to assist in the safe opening of the first batch of secret wills whose date of submission was beyond 150 years.

The opening of these secret wills is required by law and the National Archives agreed to assist to ensure the safe handling of this rich documentary heritage.

This report describes the process undertaken in the assessing, opening, and analysis of these records while ensuring that they are preserved and accessible for future generations.

Secret Wills

Maltese law provides for two types of wills. A public will must be received by a notary public in the presence of two witnesses and enrolled in the Public Registry. Its contents remain secret until the death of the testator. However, third parties may know that an individual has made a will even during the latter’s lifetime.

Then there is the secret will that is deposited in the Court Registry by the testator and may only be opened after the testator’s death and following the authorization of the Court in the presence of all interested parties who are notified by means of a court notice. During one’s lifetime, third parties have no means of knowing that a secret will has been made. Secret wills which remained unopened and unpublished are to be opened by the Court

after 150 years from the date of submission.1

The first secret wills were submitted at the Court in 1855 following a Government Notice published in the Malta Government Gazzette on the 1st of August 1855.2 Until then, notaries had been keeping secret wills in their own repositories. This explains why some of the secret wills submitted in Court in 1855 were actually drawn up at a much earlier date.

Opening the Secret Wills

The National Archives’ Conservation Laboratory was tasked with opening these wills without breaking or damaging the wax seals. The Court provided us with a list of the secret wills which were scheduled to be opened.

The National Archives’ Conservation Laboratory and the Archival Processing Unit worked together to identify the best procedure to open the Secret Wills and ensure their accessibility for research by the public. Once these records were brought into the Conservation Laboratory, Conservators Lindsay Galea and Sarah Portelli, together with NAM Archivist Zvetlana Pace Cassar and Palaeographer Samuel Azzopardi, started assessing the material and the list while trying to make sense of the original order of the records as established by the Maltese Law Courts.

The wills were in bundles of envelopes that appeared to be divided by the first letter of the testator’s surname. To maintain this organisational structure and for the sake of

1 CAP 12, Article 535A of the Laws of Malta.

2 Malta Government Gazzette, 1st of August 1855, pp. 187188.

physical and digital records management, an Identifier was assigned for each Will that started with the letter found on the bundle the secret will was in, followed by a unique number. Once this procedure was concluded the conservators started opening the secret wills and bookmarking each one with an acidfree paper. Each bookmark was noted down with the Identifier.

The secret wills were then individually photographed for documentation purposes, together with their identifier. They were then examined and where necessary the sewing was cut in order to access the document. Each will was opened, folio by folio in order to be sure that they could easily be accessed and digitised in a subsequent process. Some of the wills were found to be already open, due to the degradation of the material they were sealed with. Also, some of the seals were missing from a few of the wills, although a mark indicating they were once present was evident on these wills. These must have fallen off throughout the years, probably due to the composition of the wax itself which probably did not have enough adhesion to the paper.

During the process of opening the wills, it was decided to try to retain a few of the sewing designs. The sewing of some of these records was consolidated with Japanese tissue on the verso of the will to keep the ribbon/material in place when this was cut. This helped to keep the sewing intact, avoiding the sewing material to fall out of place. All the material was retained and kept with each will it pertained to.

We encountered some conservation problems. Some wills had a high concentration of iron gall ink which had caused acid hydrolysis and oxidation degradation. This iron gall ink corrosion (also referred to as IGI corrosion), resulted in the breaking down of the structure of the paper, causing it to fall apart. The areas which were affected by this degradation were consolidated with a layer of Japanese tissue to avoid further loss of text.

Another issue was that some of the wax seals which were placed on the outer parts of the wills, had penetrated the paper, in some cases damaging the text inside and causing the papers in the area to stick together. The folia had to be detached slowly to avoid further damage and any lacunae were infilled with Japanese paper.

In general, most of the Wills were in excellent condition and did not require any intervention. In the cases where it was deemed necessary to intervene, minimal intervention was executed. The request to open these wills was a very different request in relation to other conservation projects. However, since this was a legal obligation, the Court opted to request a conservator to open these Wills rather than doing so itself.

Once a bundle of secret wills was opened, the conservators passed it on to Archival Processing Unit for analysis. During this analysis, the archivists familiarized themselves with the wills and their structure. This process was also crucial for doublechecking that all the wills listed in the list

provided by the Maltese Law Courts were accounted for. From this list an index was created. This index recorded the identifier for each will, its condition, the language used, and the date of writing. It was at this stage that the archivists discovered many of the secret wills were written in the 18th century. This process also allowed archivists to note additional details about the testators, such as their profession, names of spouses, parents, siblings, and children, which would help researchers identify them. All this information enabled the creation of a basic catalogue for these Secret Wills, making them more accessible to researchers.

Simultaneously, the Archival Processing Unit, in consultation with the Conservation Laboratory started the digitisation process. A file naming convention was developed for archivists to be able to identify the digitised images. It was decided that each digital surrogate file should start with SW (secret wills) followed by the identifier given to each will during the processing, and the corresponding number of the page or folio. Each record was compiled into a PDF file, enabling digital access.

Analysis

Secret wills offer the researcher an indirect first-hand account into the lives, the beliefs, the priorities and the world views of the testators and their contemporaries. In the security of the secret will, the testator finds space to represent who and what they value and to indicate this through donations and other bequeaths.

In order to explore and represent the historical importance of these documents to researchers, the Archival Processing Unit engaged in an explorative exercise to represent the variety in content of these documents. A sample of 42 wills (18% of the collection) was analysed. These findings were also presented at the public launch of the project in November.

Of these 42 documents, 19 were from the Knights of St John Period (in this case ranging from 1707 to 1798) and were all in Italian except for one in French (from 1786). Another 8 wills date from the British Protectorate in Malta (date range of 1801-1813 in this sample) and were also all in Italian. The remaining 15 documents dated from the British Colonial period (ranging 1817-1861) and 8 of them were in Italian, with the remaining 7 being in English. What was particularly fascinating in this part of the exercise, was the realisation that none of the wills were in Latin, reflecting both a general trend in the 18th century and later to move away from Latin as a legal lingua franca, and a desire on the part of the testators to work with a language which was much more familiar to them.

In keeping with legal requirements, all wills included the full name of the testator as well as an attestation that the testator was of sound mind (although in four cases, the testator was reported to be infirm of body). Likewise, all wills confirmed the cancellation of any previous will and donation causa mortis. Beyond these legal requirements, however, the structure and contents of the wills varied greatly.

There was some variety also in the category of the person making the will: in more than half of the cases (29 wills; 69%) the testator was a sole heir. In another 10 wills, the testator was

a sole woman (24%). In the remaining cases, the testator(s) was a singular woman who had her will co-signed by a man, a married couple jointly, and un unmarried brother and sister.

All but nine testators made provisions for how their body was to be buried, with 24 requiring burial in a specifically named church, three others requiring burial in a church, another five leaving financial provisions for the organising of their funeral but requiring nothing else in particular, and one sole testator going into particular detail on how his body was to be interred if he so happened to die abroad.

The next most common provision concerned the institution of a universal heir. In fact, ten wills instituted a universal heir and left no other bequests. Another 22 wills indicated a universal heir alongside other legatees. One testator made his wife his universal heir until and unless she married, while another left provisions for his unborn children to inherit as universal heirs. One other testator indicated a universal heir but prevented him from disposing of the inheritance in any way, indicating who was to inherit the estate following his universal heir’s death.

Particular bequests varied in value and content, indicating the affluence of the testator and also what they personally prized and prioritised. Seven wills include donations of jewellery, four mention items of clothing,

another three mention pieces of furniture and two mention paintings. Many include provisions for the celebration of masses for the repose of the testator’s soul or even of their relatives. Two generous testators left money to local or foreign communities en masse, and two testators also left money for the construction of new altars in their local churches.

In some cases, particular bequests and conditions offer greater insight into the lives of these testators, such as when in 1747 Sapienza Trevisan left money for six unmarried women chosen by their universal heir to fast each year for six days around the anniversary of her death, or when in 1778 Leopoldo Abbate gave his slave Rosa the option of choosing whom among his relatives to serve next.

We hope this brief overview of the Secret Wills and their content has whetted the interest of the academic and research community, encouraging them to explore unusual collections and consider various fonds from new or different perspectives. These wills could also provide fascinating insights into the materials used, such as the thread, seals, paper, and watermarks.

Testators

Singular woman alone (10)

Singular woman, co-signed by a man (1)

Unmarried brother and sister (1)

Married couple jointly (1)

Singular man alone (29)

Funerary Considerations

Universal heir along other bequests (22)

Universal heir only (10)

Universal heir(s) including unborn children (1)

Universal heir appointed for their life only, with no right of alienation (1)

Spouse made universal heir unless and until they remarry (1)

Universal Heir

Universal heir only (10)

Universal heir alongside other bequests (22)

Unborn children as universal heir(s) (1)

Spouse made universal heir unless and until they remarry (1)

Universal heir without right of alienation ‘sua vita durante’ (1)

No mention of universal heir (7)

PARTICULAR BEQUESTS

Jewellery (7)

All moveable property in a particular building/house (5)

Clock (1)

Furniture (3)

Musical Instruments (1)Financial bequest to servants named as servants (4)

Pension to person sua vita durante (4)

Financial bequest to Church or Religious institution (12)

For masses for the repose of someone else’s soul (5)

Financial bequest subject to continued filial service (except during plague) (1)

Financial bequest to unborn children (1)

Financial bequest subject to marriage in church (1)

Financial bequest subject to entry into convent of monastic order (1)

Financial bequest to a member of a religious order provided that it never passes into the ownership of the monastery

Clothing (4)

Paintings (2)

Financial bequest to individual (17)

Financial bequest to community or institution in Malta or abroad (4)

For masses for the repose of their own soul (21)

Financial bequest for the construction of an altar etc in a church (2)

Dolores Cassar, born in Malta and living in Australia, came to us in April 2024 as she wanted to get to know more about her childhood in Malta. We assisted her to trace the passport application submitted by her mother in 1952 so that she, together with her and her eight siblings travel to Australia.

CENTRAL ARCHIVES READING ROOM

The Public Services Unit has continued to offer a high-quality service to our clients. This was possible both through the strengthening and consolidating of previously established services, but more importantly in our unwavering commitment to assist our clients in the most courteous and professional manner. Throughout this year we have continued to invest in the Reading Room infrastructure. We have increased our digital research terminals intended for the use of our on-site visitors but also, we changed and modernised other older computers. For the coming year we are committed to continue with this drive to improve our finding aids and creating a more friendly environment for our on-site customers.

These commitments must be seen in the light of other improvements, carried out by the Archiving Processing Unit and our IT department, specifically in the upgrading of our online catalogue, thus improving the research experience for our online users.

Another aspect, that should be mentioned is the voluminous cataloguing work being carried out by our archivists with the assistance of our volunteers, which in turn leads to more accessibility to our collections. This is reflected in the record number of items that has been requested by clients, often from newly catalogued collections.

From this year, the Public Service Unit, have started focusing on self-development sessions. The first session was carried out at the National Library of Malta, where we were given an in-depth presentation of their collections by Ms Maroma Camilleri. These sessions will help us comprehend better other archives, and be able to better guide our clients in their research.

ON SITE RESEARCH SESSIONS

Last year we continued to experience a growth in volume throughout all our services. On-site users have increased, and we have registered the highest ever number of clients visiting the National Archives of Malta to carry out research from our collections, just shying away from the two thousand mark. In fact, in 2024 we had 1,974 on-site researchers, an increase of 312 over the same period, last year. This record number, brought with it, an increase in the other related data; an increase in hours of research (4,942 hours) and in the documents that have been consulted. The below statistics and graph, show the steady and constant increase in the activity of the Reading Room.

As in previous years, the National Archives of Malta has been attracting interest from foreign researchers. This is done mainly through online communication. However, occasionally we have these foreigners visiting the archives to carry out onsite research. This year we had 148 foreign researchers, an increase of 58 clients compared to the same period last year. The largest number of clients came from the United Kingdom, which in total reached 58 sessions, followed by Australia with 36 clients and the United States of America with 12 visits. These countries had in the past, strong relations particularly in the migratory connections. In fact, most of them

focused on family history using sources such as Passport Applications, Ġuljana Letard Ciantar and Customs collections commonly used to trace ancestors. In one of these visits, Ms Dolores Berkley, an Australian lady visiting the archives, enquired about the passport application of her mother, Mrs Mary Cassar who together with her family migrated to Australia in 1952. To her surprise upon viewing this application, she not only traced her mother’s applications, but she found her young self, as a 10-year-old girl, in the family photo attached to the application. Such emotional experiences are what makes our job so rewarding!

Year 10 students following the History Option at St Margaret College (Verdala) and St Lucia Secondary at the Central Archive, 15 April 2024.

Number of research sessions

Regarding the items that have been consulted last year, we have surpassed the previous year by more than one thousand items. In just five years we have doubled the number of documents that have been consulted at the Central Archives. From the below statistics, the most popular collections among our researchers remained as in previous years the Chief Secretary to Government (CSG), Passport Application (MFA 01), Despatches (GOV), Building Notices (BNO), and the Police (POL) collections. However, the most interesting data to be extracted from the

below table is the increase in the documents related to family history. The Ġuljana Letard Ciantar (GLC) collections has now reached 869 items compared to the 363 documents requested the previous year. This collection was the fourth most popular collection this year. Another collection that has seen an important surge in interest was the Passport Applications (MFA 01). This year more than 1,600 applications, have been requested by clients. These two collections, together with our Customs records, are the core documents for tracing ancestors.

CUSTOMER CARE REQUESTS

The customer care channel, is now the established and primary channel by which clients can connect with the National Archives of Malta team. On-site users, often commence their communication through this channel. However, it is mostly used by those researchers who for various reasons, cannot physically attend in the Reading Rooms. Of these mostly are people residing abroad.

Thoughout this year, we have seen an increase in requests compared with the previous years. For the first time, we surpassed the 1800 requests, an increase of 492 emails on the same period last year. This year’s figure even exceeded the requests received in 2021 (1,599), which was the Covid period when such mode of communication became popluar and at the time it was an all-timehigh.

Customer Care requests compared with the previous years

Customer care requests

A closer look at the type of requests received via the customer care channel, it transpires that 56% of the requests (1,043) were for assistance for research on various subjects. This includes research on different academic subjects, usually sent by students reading in various tertiary-level courses but also requests on family research. A further 34% of

the emails (636) were requests for booking onsite research appointments, pre-booking of documents and other general queries which include requests for copies. Finally, 10% of the correspondence received (200) were either requests for visits, enquires regarding job or student placement opportunities and other administration issues.

When analysing the research requests, it emerges that out of the 1,043 emails, the majority of these were genealogy-based research requests. In fact, when adding those requests for birth and marriage information together with requests for passport applications and military and police dossiers, these make up for 40% of the research requests. These figures combined with the data (above) from the items requests this year, continue to reinforce the position of the National Archives of Malta as one of the leading institutions for genealogy research.

Other interesting figures, show that we had 110 requests for plans. Most of these requests

were made by university students reading in various architecture-related studies.

Requests for audio-visual material has reached 77 requests. This figure is testimony of the enormous number of audio-visual accessions that have been donated to the National Archives of Malta in recent years.

Finally, this year we have also witnessed an increase in requests for police trading licences. These documents are generally requested by clients in need to regularise shops or other retail property, often required by the Planning Authority. This year we had 68 requests for documents from this collection.

Website/New accession requests,146

Research appointments/ Digitalcopies, 490

Customer care requests

Research requests

General Queries

TLU, 55 Mil Records,50 Admin, 75

Visits, 47 Adminrequests vacancies,Volunteers/ 78

Generalresearchrequests,376

Research requests

Genealogy research, 254

Passport Applications, 121 Plans,110 NAVI, 77

Admin requests

Students following the History Option at the Kirkop and Mosta Secondary Schools at the Central Archive, 19th April 2024.

General Queries

The growth which the Public Service Unit have experienced throughout these recent years, can be fully understood when comparing the combined requests received from both

our on-site and online clients. This year, the combined figure stood at 3,853, which is an increase of more than 800 requests on the previous year alone.

ANCILLARY SERVICES

The rise in the number of clients contacting us, brought a corresponding increase in the ancillary services, comprising mainly in reproduction services of documents. Notwithstanding the various options that clients have at their disposal to reproduce material, including using their own devices to take photos with no extra cost, we still have on-site researchers requesting copies

of documents. However, most requests for copies originated from our online users. The revenue generated from these requests amounted to €8,443. This figure is doublethe-amount generated last year, which stood at €4,806.30. With 7,322 digital images of documents created for the 354 requests this year, it made the bulk of the income with €3,661.

Student Aaron Azzopardi during his placement at the Central Archive.

Other services included the requests for emigration certificates from the Passage Assistance Records (PAR). This year we had a decrease in the number of clients requesting this service, which stood at 10 requests. These certificates are requested by Maltese emigrants who returned to Malta and are in the process of applying for a retirement pension from the country they worked.in.

EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL VISITS

As part of our incessant campaign to bring closer the Archives to the public and increase the awareness about the importance of our treasures, we have continued to organize and host visits to the National Archives of Malta. This year we had 58 visits, 4 less than last year, with 826 persons taking part in these events. Most of these visits were educational in nature, carried out by students enrolled in different levels of education, ranging from primary level to tertiary level students. Six of these activities were carried out by Year 10

students having History Option, enrolled in State Schools, who had to carry out fieldwork from various documents held at the Archives as part of their yearly assessment.

In December we collaborated with the Department of History, of the University of Malta and welcomed second year students reading for a degree in History, who had the opportunity to discover the archives but most importantly they participated in a research activity at our Reading Room, whereby these future historians carried out research from the primary sources. A similar event was organised in May for students attending the Junior College and who are studying history at A Level.

Over the years we have been witnessing an increase in interest from the public to visit the National Archives of Malta as a cultural activity. This was evident in the Open Day organised in April. However, this year we also had fifteen requests by private groups or individuals to hold cultural visits at the archives. In one instance, we were invited to give a talk about the National Archives at the Lions Club Malta at their headquarters.

Melvin Caruana delivering a talk about the National Archives at the Lions Club Malta, 15 May 2024.

39 Former educators group visit 11th October 2024

40 IMCoS Symposium 17th October 2024

41 Foreign prosecutors 17th October 2024

42 Hon Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament 29th October 2024

43 UoM, Diploma Baroque Arch 12th November 2024

44 British Residents Association 13th November 2024

45 UoM, Law students 13th November 2024

46 Qormi Local Council 14th December 2024

47 MCAST, BA Construction Studies 18th November 2024

48 Gozo Cathedral Chapter 20th November 2024

49 MCAST, Dip Cultural Heritage Skills 20th November 2024

50 UoM, M.A. Archaeology and M.A. Cultural Heritage students 21st November 2024

51 UoM, Diploma History in Context students 21st November 2024

52 UoM, Criminal Law students, First 22nd November 2024

53 ITS, Diploma in Tour Guide 4th December 2024

54 MCAST, Foreign Pharmacy students 5th December 2024

55 UoM, History students HST 2011 5th December 2024

56 Group of American Nurses 6th December 2024

57 St Martin’s College Level 12/13 11th December 2024

58 Agency for community and therapeutic services 17th December 2024

A familiarisation visit organised by the Qormi Local Council,14th December 2024.

STUDENT INTERNSHIPS

This year we hosted 17 students who carried out various types of placements at the National Archives of Malta. Of these, six of the students came from foreign educational institutions, mainly from Italy (2), Germany, Taiwan, South Korea, and Czech Republic. One of the most important benefits of these international placements, is international networking. Often, year after year we have students from the same institutions who apply for an internship at the National Archives. In the case of the Luhacovice Secondary School, Czech Republic, we have

started a collaboration, whereby students studying Library and Information Services, apply to carry out a two-week placement with us, as part of their studies. These mobility placements are funded through the Erasmus + programme.

Apart from the typical archival-related tasks, such as sorting, cataloguing digitisation and paper conservation of documents, this year we also had two students reading in IT related courses at MCAST, who assisted our IT unit.

“Aspart of my studies at the University of Public Administration and Finance in Ludwigsburg, Germany, I had the opportunity to complete an internship abroad. After speaking with a former graduate who had also interned at the National Archives of Malta, I decided to apply for an internship there.

Once I was introduced to archival work, my tasks included sorting documents and cleaning them to prevent further damage. After these steps, I catalogued the files in a database used by researchers and private customers in the Reading Room.

In the Archival Processing Unit, I was responsible for transferring the catalog databases into CSV files, which were then imported into the archival software AtoM. This software makes the information available for online research. With my IT background from my previous studies and the use of AI, I developed a script that automates the data transfer process, speeding up the workflow. Another task involved developing a tool that automatically adds watermarks to grouped scans of documents and generates a PDF containing the images.

Additionally, I worked on the digitisation and cataloguing of film negatives from the Times of Malta from the year 2002.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to the National Archives by leveraging my IT knowledge. I learned a lot about the collection, selection, processing, and archiving of historical documents, and making them accessible to everyone online.

It was a great experience. I also learned a lot about the culture and history of Malta and had very nice and helpful colleagues who made my internship very pleasant. I want to thank everyone at the National Archives!“

JAKOB KUHN

University of Public Administration and Finance, Ludwigsburg (Germany)

“The opportunity to work at the National Archives of Malta came to me through a placement studyunit organized by the Department of History within the University of Malta. I chose to do this placement as I have always been curious about how the archives in Malta function and, also, because I have always been intrigued by the archives themselves.

During the placement, my work mostly consisted of cataloging a number of applications from a special collection entitled the Malta Relief Fund and scanning of various documents. I had never had the opportunity to undergo such tasks, thus they were very interesting to learn and become more familiar with.

After completing my required time for the Placement unit, I enjoyed the experience so much that I decided to continue volunteering at the archives as well as starting my own research for my own studies there.

I want to show my appreciation to all of the members of staff that I had the pleasure of meeting and working with. I want to thank them for all the kindness and patience they showed me as I slowly adjusted to this new work environment. They are ever so welcoming, encouraging, and professional in their work, which I appreciate because you truly see how dedicated they are to their jobs, the archives, and to providing the best possible assistance to those who visit the archives.

I am beyond grateful to them and the archives for having given me this opportunity and for having taught me plenty of new skills that I will surely use for my studies. I truly enjoyed every second of it and I discovered a passion for the archives within me that I had not realized was there before.

Thank you very much to everyone for everything and I very much look forward to continuing volunteering and conducting my own research at the National Archives of Malta.”

ROSETTE AZZOPARDI

University of Malta (B.A. (Hons) History)

MEDIA INITIATIVES

Throughout this year we have maintained a constant presence on the media, both during news broadcasts but also on other popular daily programmes. Once again, this year we were invited to have a fixed slot on Kumplimenti, a programme co-hosted by Debbie Vella, an officer within our Public Services Unit, where we discussed the various types of research that can be carried out at the National Archives of Malta. These programmes are an important aspect of our outreach initiatives. In fact, we observed a surge in requests following the going on air of such programmes.

Visit by second year students reading for a Degree in B.A. (Hons) History

SOCIAL MEDIA

CHARTING CHANGE

THE MALTA DRAWING SCHOOL, ARTISTIC EDUCATION AND THE HYZLER REPORT RELAZIONE DELLO STATO DELLE SCUOLE

DEL DISEGNO NELL’UNIVERSITÀ DI MALTA, DAL

1802 AL 1850 IN BRITISH COLONIAL MALTA

The National Archives of Malta houses a significant document entitled Relazione dello Stato delle Scuole del Disegno nell’Università di Malta, dal 1802 al 1850 (hereinafter referred to as report) that provides valuable insights into the Malta Drawing School (hereinafter referred to as academy), it’s academic artistic training and the state of art in Malta at the turn of the nineteenth century, as well as its development over the following five decades.1 Since its initial critical evaluation and publication in 1983, the history of the document’s location has drawn attention, particularly its transfer from the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta, where it was originally housed, to Santo Spirito, Rabat in 1994 — now the site of the National Archives of Malta.2 During this period of transition, the document’s whereabouts were lost until it was rediscovered in 2004 during the extensive research undertaken for my Master’s dissertation. Its subsequent analysis was further developed in the 2011 publication, Academic Artistic Training in Early British Malta. 3

1 ‘Relazione Dello Stato Delle Scuole Del Disegno Nell’Università Di Malta, Dal 1802 al 1850’ (Rabat, Malta, c 1850), GMR 71, National Archives Malta.

2 Michael Ellul, ‘Art and Architecture in Malta in the Early Nineteenth Century’, in Proceedings of History Week 1982 (Malta: The Malta Historical Society, 1983), 1–19.

3 Hilary Spiteri, Academic Artistic Training in Early British Malta: The Malta University School of Design and Patterns of Academic Artistic Training in Malta 18001860 (Valletta, Malta: Allied Publishing Ltd, 2011).

The report is well-preserved within the national collection, retaining its historical and scholarly significance. This handwritten manuscript consists of six folios (f. 245–250), measuring 20 cm in width and 32 cm in height, written in a consistent and legible nineteenth-century cursive script. The text is neatly arranged on both recto and verso sides, suggesting that it was likely drafted beforehand and then carefully transcribed. The ink has endured remarkably well, with minimal fading, while the paper — though showing natural signs of ageing, such as slight yellowing and minor foxing — remains largely intact, free from significant tears or damage.

The reason why the report was drafted remains largely unknown. It was likely prepared in the early 1850s, following the 1849 recommendations of the Council of Government. Shortly after taking office, Governor Richard More O’Ferrall (17971880) appointed Canon Dr Paolo Pullicino (1815-1890), a university-educated priest, as Director of Elementary Schools on the Island. Aware of the deficiencies in the rudimentary system of elementary education prior to his appointment, Pullicino, upon returning from a European tour of elementary schools, resolved to implement a comprehensive reform programme of his own design. This initiative aimed to replace the inadequately executed monitorial system (also known as the Lancasterian system), which relied on

Hilary Spiteri

The first page of the Relazione dello stato delle Scuole del Disegno nell’Università di Malta, dal 1802, al 1850. Folio 245 recto, NAM/GMR 71. Photo: Hilary Spiteri.

uneducated and untrained teachers lacking expertise in pedagogy.4

The authorship of the report remains unidentified; however, its content demonstrates an intimate understanding of the socio-artistic dynamics of the Maltese Islands and Europe during the period in question. At the time, only a select few artists were directly involved in the Maltese academy’s development or closely associated with its members. These individuals were uniquely positioned to provide a vivid account of the academy’s early years — celebrating its achievements, identifying its shortcomings, and possessing the credibility to analyse, criticise, and propose a path forward.

In the text, the unknown author expresses his views on the invasive and persistent Baroque influence, or «barocchismo», that dominated late eighteenth-century Europe,

4 Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia. “monitorial system.” Encyclopedia Britannica, January 16, 2015. https://www.britannica.com/topic/monitorialsystem.

particularly in Rome, which he argues “ruined the arts.” The anonymous source proceeds to praise the German artists, or rather the Die Lukasbrüder brotherhood, who left their homeland in pursuit of a purer artistic ideal found in the Vatican frescoes, specifically Raphael’s works in the Vatican Rooms. He contrasts their approach with that of the ‘modern’ academies and their masters, whom he criticises for being overly absorbed in their practices and dogmas, which he associates with what he describes as «arte moderna».

Building on these statements, this study proposes a possible attribution of the report to Giuseppe Hyzler (1787-1858), whose formative years as a student in Rome were shaped by the German Romantic Movement, particularly the Die Lukasbrüder, also known as the Nazarenes. Hyzler’s lasting friendship with Friedrich Overbeck (1789–1869), leader of this movement, profoundly influenced Malta’s artistic development. This is reflected in Hyzler’s establishment of a Nazarene studio and art school in Malta, alongside a training programme that highlighted the close artistic

Entrance to the University of Malta-Valletta Campus (from St Paul’s Street). Attributed to Giorgio Pullicino, during the 19th century this served as the entrance to the Università di Malta. Photo: Hilary Spiteri.

connection between Overbeck and Hyzler. The programme promoted a form of Christian art purified of pagan elements, embracing the art of the early Raphael as its ideal.

Hyzler’s rigorous academic training and notable artistic pedagogical expertise resonate throughout the manuscript, offering a compelling yet critical perspective on the challenges of teaching art in Malta. The author underscores how didactic resources for artistic training were diminished to a bare minimum due to restrictive considerations. His appeal echoes the concerns of P. Pullicino and reinforces the call for reform.

In a compelling and romanticised narrative characteristic of contemporary men of letters, he documented the origins of the Malta Drawing School, attributing full credit to Canon Francesco Saverio Caruana (1759–1847). Against the backdrop of Malta’s complex political transitions — from the rule of the Order of St John to the French occupation and, ultimately, British governance — Caruana advocated for the establishment of an academy with a forward-

thinking curriculum. Although the author does not specify the branches of learning, he emphasises the study of various parts of the human body, particularly the head. He adds that this institution aimed not only to advance artistic and industrial education but also to challenge the prevailing Baroque aesthetic, which remained dominant in the Maltese Islands at the time.

Hyzler, in this report, underscored that the academy’s establishment was not solely intended for students aspiring to develop expertise and pursue careers in the fine arts. It also sought to accommodate individuals interested in contributing to the industrial sector by promoting the applied arts. At the time, there was a recognised need for highquality design in both manufacturing and mechanics, particularly in the harbour region, which the British sought to revitalise and support during Malta’s colonial period.

In the second part of his report, Hyzler critiqued the Maltese academy’s curriculum, highlighting its gradual failure to meet expected standards. He remarks that

Giuseppe Hyzler (1787–1858), selfportrait c. 1814. Photo: MUŻA — The Malta National Community Art Museum, Valletta.

the programme designed by the Maltese professors was confined to a superficial — «secca» — imitation of various parts of the human figure, initially outlined and later supplemented with rudimentary chiaroscuro. It is worth pausing to consider Hyzler’s use of the term «secca». Technically, this term could refer to the use of dry media, such as pencil and charcoal and chalk, which were prevalent in European academies at the time. These institutions often functioned primarily as drawing academies, where students honed their skills in draftsmanship, proportion, and composition. However, given the ironic tone evident throughout the report, the remark «secca» might also suggest that the Maltese drawing school lacked a scientific and systematic pedagogical framework — a criticism closely aligned with Pullicino’s perspective.

During this period, the Maltese academy was led by Michele Busuttil (1762-1831), who, despite his time in Rome and exposure to the Neoclassical sensibilities that dominated the city during the late eighteenth century, reverted to late Baroque trends upon his return to Malta — a style that still held sway on the Islands at the time. As reported, Busuttil’s adherence to a superficially rigorous teaching approach — «in questa sola parte ed unica dell’esercizio meccanico avevano imparato» — was met with criticism from students at the academy, including the author, who attributed the institution’s shortcomings to his methods. This dissatisfaction led to the academy’s decline in popularity, with students abandoning their studies. Hyzler observed that “the praises of the administration for overly polished drawings caused the most talented students to resist bringing their work to this supposed perfection and ultimately leave the school,” reducing the academy to a class exclusively for painters — “it became a school of painters.”

Hyzler’s critique of Busuttil becomes particularly severe when addressing the academic performance and experiences of Maltese students in Rome — «Tale era la domanda che si dirigeva alla scuola in questo disappointment». Notably, he omits any mention of the scholarships provided by the British administration in Malta, which

supported distinguished students of the Maltese academy — including Hyzler himself — in pursuing further studies in Rome. Instead, he attributed the shortcomings of these students on foreign soil, including their criticism and ridicule by professors at the Roman Accademia di San Luca, to the inadequate training and academic inefficiency of the Maltese academy.

Hyzler went on to commend the Roman institution, «dai sette colli», crediting it with the advancement of Maltese students. He suggested that during their time in Rome, Maltese students were not encouraged by their professors to simply replicate the mechanical exercises acquired at the Maltese academy but rather to embrace and cultivate the creative genius «scienza», a discipline highly valued and consistently promoted by the Roman Academy since its foundation.

Nonetheless, despite Hyzler’s admiration for the Roman academy, he withheld praise for the professors who championed Neoclassical artistic principles. Hyzler’s deep familiarity with the Nazarene brotherhood and his evident bias towards their principal reaction against Neoclassicism are well-documented.5 Upon reviewing the report, it becomes apparent that, according to Hyzler, Maltese students attending the academy were influenced by their Roman masters, who were sympathetic to Neoclassical ideals. He observes that only after liberating themselves from the “stench” («lezzo») of Voltarianism were they able to embrace a new artistic vision.

A refreshing shift in the reported narrative emerges with the introduction of Giorgio Pullicino (1799-1851) as an assistant to the aging Busuttil, characterised as «un maestro che invecchiava». Pullicino was praised as a professor possessing “greater skill and superior ideas and dispositions” and was credited with efforts to refine the Malta Drawing School curriculum. His most

5 The Nazarenes rejected the conventional art education offered by the academy system, advocating instead for an artistic approach imbued with spiritual values. They drew inspiration from artists of the Late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, dismissing the perceived superficial virtuosity of later art.

significant contribution was the introduction of an architecture class, intended to address and improve upon the perceived superficiality of the existing programme. Once again, Hyzler demonstrated a willingness to engage in critique. While acknowledging the curricular shift, he pointed out that students were not provided with a systematic, scientific foundation essential for aspiring architects. Hyzler attributed this shortcoming to G. Pullicino, noting that despite his familiarity with the academic requirements, these remained unmet among the students. In a tone of ironic reproach, Hyzler asked, “And how could one therefore hope that without the preparatory sciences they would have become architects?”

Further on, a significant point emerges in Hyzler’s discussion of the evaluation and adjudication of works produced by students of the Maltese academy through a controlled examination at the beginning of the academic year (though the author does not specify which year is being referred to). Hyzler noted that “two skilled artists were invited to the exam, and they prepared a report outlining their opinions on the drawings and the state of the school.” This report was subsequently submitted to the University authorities and was described as positive, offering valuable recommendations to the directors and teachers. Hyzler further specifies that the examinations lasted four hours, during which the students’ drawings, completed «a bell’agio» (“at their leisure, without haste”), were exhibited.

The author further highlights the significance of public engagement during a meaningful historical period in Malta’s history, just a few years after the abolition of British press censorship and the establishment of true press freedom in Malta in 1839. He notes that “some wise men” criticised the exhibited work for not meeting the desired standards, suggesting it should not be made public, as follows:

«Pel credito futuro degli stessi giovani, anche avuto riguardo al luogo ed alla disposizione generale, desideriamo che rimangano chiusi interamente al pubblico. Idea d’un unsieme (termine dell’arte) non pare che abbiano

questi scolari: uno solo che ci contenti da tanti segnati non ne abbiamo trovato. »6

Hyzler observed that these fervent warnings were largely ignored by Maltese officials. Interestingly, however, in his concluding remarks, he extensively speculated on the accounts forwarded and the unanimous decision by the same body to adopt a lowprofile approach — likely a strategic choice to prevent further escalation and to safeguard the entire educational institution (the University).

This decision coincided with the arrival of a British commission dispatched from London to investigate and assess the state of education in Malta that arrived in 1836, comprising George Cornewall Lewis (18061863), a future British cabinet minister; John Austin (1790-1859), a distinguished legal scholar and expert in Roman law; and, unofficially but significantly, Sarah Austin (1790–1859), John Austin’s wife and a noted authority on education. This commission followed the political manoeuvring of Camillo Sciberras (1772-1855) and Giorgio Mitrovich (1794-1885), who had actively lobbied for the establishment of a Maltese National Assembly.

The result was the Statuto Fondamentale della Pubblica Istruzione of 1838, which abolished the 1834 University Council and proposed a new educational framework. The commission tasked with the reforms evaluated various advantages and disadvantages but reached an overall consensus in favour of reorganising the University and Lyceum system. This initiative also laid the groundwork for the eventual development of widespread public education in Malta.

During this period of transition, Pietro Paolo Caruana (1793-1852), a contemporary and competitor of Hyzler, as well as an alumnus of the Accademia di San Luca in Rome, led the

6 Translation: “For the future reputation of these young people, and considering the venue and the general arrangement, we wish for them to remain entirely closed to the public. These students do not seem to have a sense of unity (a term from art): among the many selected, we did not find even one to our satisfaction.”

Malta Drawing School. Following the reforms, the Maltese academy transitioned from being part of the University segment to becoming an integral component of the Lyceum, a shift initiated in 1834 and solidified by 1838–1839. Hyzler later confirmed that during this time, P. P. Caruana was solely in charge of the school.

The author persuasively determines that the Malta School of Drawing was of seminal importance for the Islands. He emphatically refers to the 1838 reorganisation, but which, unfortunately, did not result in any positive outcome. In this report, Hyzler invited the British authorities to perform a thorough reorganisation so to provide a sound artistic instruction which was unfortunately lacking.

In his concluding paragraph, Hyzler highlighted that “twelve years had already elapsed” since the 1838 reorganisation — «e sono passati già dodici anni» — and asserts that the time was now ripe for action. He urged the authorities, likely addressing Canon Paolo Pullicino, to establish a programme of study intended not only for painters but also for others requiring foundational and effective training.7 This artistic curriculum, he argued, would enable individuals to pursue further education independently or under the guidance of others to advance their chosen professions.

The analysis presented here suggests that the validity of this report lies in its significance as a precursor to a novel approach to artistic education in Maltese schools, particularly at the Primary Level «Scuole Elementari». The 1838 educational reforms placed

7 Elisa Camboni, ‘Canova e la Riorganizzazione della Didattica nelle Scuole dell’Accademia di San Luca in Epoca Napoleonica’, in Canova: Studi e Ricerche 1, Quaderni degli Atti 2021-2022 (Roma: Accademia Nazionale di San Luca, 2023), 71.This was similarly observed in other European academies, particularly in the newly reorganised Accademia di San Luca in Rome, following the French seizure of the remaining papal territories in 1798 and the subsequent proclamation of the Roman Republic.

considerable emphasis on primary education, aiming to transform pedagogical frameworks and inculcate a colonial educational ethos from an early age. This initiative was intended to counteract the predominantly Italianate cultural orientation of the Maltese intelligentsia who were resistant to embracing Imperial culture and its practices. In support of this argument was the establishment of the Class of Lineal Drawing in the early 1850s, with Louis Taffien (1811-1866) appointed as Master of Lineal Drawing at the primary institution in Valletta.8 His appointment, dated 1 December 1852, was first recorded in the British colonial Blue Books for 1853,

8 Luis Taffien (1811–1866), also recorded as ‘Lewis’ or ‘Louis,’ remains a relatively obscure figure in the history of art. A landscape painter fluent in Spanish, Taffien is known to have travelled to both New York and Spain. In 1849, he resided at 209, Strada Forni in Valletta, Malta. Among his notable works is The Great Fire of 1835 as Seen from Brooklyn, New York, executed in gouache and black ink over graphite on paper, later mounted on Japanese paper. This work is currently held in the collection of the Museum of the City of New York (29.100.24971835).

Can Paolo Pullicino (1815-1890) was instrumental for the Primary Education reform in Malta. Photo: Hilary Spiteri.

with an annual salary of £25.0.0, which had doubled by the 1860s.9

The discipline of Lineal Drawing was a novel concept for the Maltese Islands. It emphasised the visual estimation of proportions and their accurate reproduction on paper, enabling pupils to develop technical drawing skills tailored to industry needs, such as the design of new machines, particularly in the shipbuilding sector. This skill was regarded as valuable across various professions, including among the middling and lower classes. While its immediate practical applications may not have been considered indispensable, its role in fostering habits of accuracy and precision was widely recognised. When learned in youth, such a discipline was believed to have a positive influence on character development — an aspect that the British authorities in Malta sought to shape through both formal and informal education.10

Lineal Drawing represented a pioneering field of study in the Maltese Islands, yet it aligned with the vision articulated in Hyzler’s report. Its introduction was most likely facilitated by an artist of obscure yet intriguing origins. Taffien appears to have travelled extensively across Europe and even beyond the Atlantic, suggesting a broad exposure to artistic and pedagogical developments. This discipline was first formalised in France by LouisBenjamin Francoeur (1773–1849), who promoted its practice through his 1819 treatise Le dessin linéaire d’après la méthode de l’enseignement mutuel, which was available in an English translation in London by 1824.11 In Malta, it was likely integrated into local curricula through Taffien’s efforts.

9 Malta Blue Books, Colony of Malta, 1853, p.158. Malta Blue Books, Colony of Malta, 1848, p.144. Taffien was initially appointed by the Governor in Malta on 1 February 1848 as the Assistant Schoolmaster at Valletta Primary School.

10 The British introduced various initiatives in Malta aimed at instilling a sense of Imperial authority and discipline among the population. One notable example is the establishment of the Scouting movement on the Island in the early twentieth century. This initiative was spearheaded by Robert Baden-Powell (1857-1941), a Lieutenant-General in the British Army, who founded The Boy Scouts Association as a means to cultivate loyalty, selfreliance, and structured discipline within the framework of British Imperial ideals, especially among the young generation. The movement not only reflected broader strategies of cultural influence and governance but also became a vehicle for promoting values aligned with the British Empire’s vision of character building and societal organisation.

In conclusion, this article does not seek to provide an in-depth analysis of the discipline of Lineal Drawing — a subject currently receiving further scholarly attention from the author. Instead, its focus has been on examining the implications of the presumed Hyzler report and the subsequent introduction of this discipline to Malta. By contextualising this shift, the article highlights the significant transition in artistic education, moving from the higher echelons of the University and Lyceum to the foundational levels of primary education. This paradigm shift underscores the broader socio-cultural and educational reforms of the period, which merit further exploration to fully understand their impact on Malta’s artistic and pedagogical development.

11 Louis Benjamin Francoeur, Lineal Drawing, and Introduction to Geometry, as Taught in the Lancastrian Schools of France (London: Harvey and Darton, 1824).Golden Screen printing in Front, Color Leather, Colored book etc.

Hilary Spiteri is currently reading a PhD in Art History. He holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Art History from the University of Malta. Spiteri is the Deputy Head of School and Head of the Art Department at De La Salle College Sixth Form in Malta, where he also teaches Art and Art History. His publications on Maltese art history include Academic Artistic Training in Early British Malta (Allied Publications, 2011), Celebrating Antoine Camilleri (1922–2005) (Exhibition Catalogue, 2015), and Filial Churches in Malta (Horizons, 2016). He also contributes art historical articles to The Sunday Times of Malta and academic journals.

5 GOZO ARCHIVE

Overleaf: Cittadella from Ghelmus Hill early 1900’s.

During the year under review, the Gozo Section of the National Archives of Malta celebrated 35 years since its official inauguration on 24 November 1989 by Anton Tabone, then Minister for Gozo and Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, then Minister of Education. The first archivist was Mgr. Dr. Joseph Bezzina who was responsible for the collection of records from various Government Departments in Gozo and to catalogue and set up the archive.

To commemorate this milestone H.E. Dr Myriam Spiteri Debono, President of Malta visited the Archive on 19 November. She was introduced to the staff and guests and given a tour of the most important documents held by the archive which were put on display. The President was presented with her family tree, compiled from the Guliana Masini held at the archive. During the commemorative event, Mr Joseph P. Zammit presented the Gozo Archive with a collection of around 200 thousand digital photos of Gozo which he took on various occasions around the Island.

The Gozo Archive continued to render its services from the main premises in Triq Vajrinġa in Ir-Rabat. It fulfills the requirements of the National Archives Act as the public record office

Plan of the Victoria Primary School where the Gozo Archive is housed on the upper floor.

for the documentation generated and received by Government departments and establishments in Gozo and Comino. It also manages two repositories in Għarb, one housing the Notarial Registers Archive (Gozo) and the other is an extension of the main depository in Victoria.

Following the construction of a new Primary School, the premises in Vajringa Street, Victoria ceased to function as a school. On 27 June 2024 the school closed the doors for the very last time after 168 years functioning as the Primary School of Victoria. The Gozo Archive, together with the Gozo National Library, occupy the first floor of the building. We have been appealing to the authorities concerned to be allocated part of the vacated premises so that we could expand their services and collections. Unfortunately to date no additional premises have been allocated.

STAFF

The total current staff complement at the NAG amounts to six employees with an additional employee who has been seconded with a non-government organization. A trainee under the Government of Malta and Maltapost

agreement for training of persons with special needs is also deployed at the NAG. The Assistant National Archivist is responsible for the Gozo Archive and forms part of the Senior Management Team of the National Archives.

RECORDS MANAGEMENT

Given that both the Victoria as well as the Għarb depositories are full to capacity with records, no attempts were made to transfer sizeable collections from other Government Departments. Only one visit was made to Gozo General Hospital to assess the condition of a collection of X-Ray films. It was agreed that a sample be retained from each year for future reference. A meeting was held at the Ministry for Gozo regarding the eventual transfer of registry files generated by the same Ministry.

ACCESSIONS

The table lists the new accessions that were added to the NAG during the year 2024. As in previous years, sizeable collections could not be transferred due to lack of space. Two

notable accessions were a collection of 60 original drawings for church decorations in Gozo by the renowned artist Giuseppe Galea (1911 – 1993) and a collection of 200,000

Contents

Postcards, Photographs and documents Dr George Azzopardi

Photographs and documents Dr George Azzopardi

Photographs and documents Dr George Azzopardi Donation

Digital Photographs Private donation

digital photographs of Gozo views, events and people taken by photographer Joseph P. Zammit (b.1949).

26/01/2024 Postcards, and photos of Gozo 24 items

12/02/2024 Photos and ephemera items of Gozo 13 items

23/05/2024 Old volumes of Gozo Court Cases and photos related to Gozo 11 items

18/07/2024 Digital photographs of crowning of Gozo Cathedral titular painting in 1975 102 photos

Personal files Ministry for Gozo 23/07/2024 Personal files on attainment of 75 years of age 2 files

Historic pamphlet Purchase 04/11/2024 Historic pamphlet issued on the occasion of the return of first Bishop of Gozo from Rome. 1 item

Digital photos Mr Joseph P. Zammit

19/11/2024 Digital photographic collection of places and events in Gozo 200,000 photos

Misty morning over Cittadella.

Photo: Joseph Zammit Collection.

ARCHIVAL PROCESSING

153 volumes/items were added to the Gozo Archive during 2024. This is significantly less than those registered during the previous year: 924 (2023). Up to the end of the year, the archive held fonds from twenty-nine different entities, each of which is subdivided to reflect the diverse activity carried out by the entity that created the fonds. The fonds are:

AG - Archives Gozo (National Archives – Gozo section)

CA - Civil Abattoir

CC - Civic Council

CG - Curia Gubernatorali (Courts of Law)

CI - Charitable Institutions

CP - Circulars and Posters

CR - Cremona Collection

DF - Documentaries and Films

GB - Malta Government Savings Bank

GL - Ġurdan Lighthouse

GM - Ġuljana Masini

HI - Hospitals and other Institutions

IR - Inland Revenue

LC - Local Councils

LE - Labour and Emigration

MG - Ministry for Gozo

MH - Medical and Health Department

MP - Monte di Pietà

PA - Photographs. Albums

PD - Police Department

PM - Plans and maps

PO - Passport Office

PW - Public Works

SG - Secretariat to the Government

SN - Street naming

SS - State Schools

ST - Statistics

UG - Universitas Gaudisii

ZM - Miscellanea

Marsalforn in the early 1900’s.

Photograph by Michele Farrugia.

DIGITISATION

During the year under review digitisation was continued on three separate fonds. The digitisation of the Medical and Health Department fonds consisting of building applications was continued during the year under review. This fonds is by far the most popular and the continuous handling of the fragile volumes and plans is detrimental to their conservation. 177 volumes from the Police Department fonds consisting of Police Occurrences books covering the years 1927 to 1962 have also been digitized. Digitisation of the Secretariat to the Government fonds pertaining to the first years of British administration on the Island was also continued.

This digitisation project is being carried out by a trainee employed through an agreement

between Government and Maltapost for persons with special needs. Several largescale plans have been digitized at the Digitisation Unit of the National Archives in Malta.

PUBLIC SERVICES

Research sessions during 2024 amounted to 230, slightly less than the previous year – 252 (2023) and 101 (2022). The number of research hours amounted to 346, more than the previous two years: 316 (2023) and 240 (2022). The number of items consulted amounted to 580.

During the year 2024, the Medical and Health fonds proved to be again the most popular, followed by the Curia Gubernatoriale and the Ġuljana Masini fonds.

The following is a break-down of statistics per month (2024):

The following table shows number of consultations from each fond per month (2024):

CONSERVATION

A number of items from the French Period documents (ZM/02/Misc.) were sent to the National Archives’ Conservation Laboratory for conservation treatment. Old binding materials were replaced by archive quality folders. A large-scale drawing by Giuseppe Galea was also restored before eventual transfer to Gozo. A systematic general cleanup and organization of the shelving was commenced at the Gozo Archive. Wherever possible, volumes and documents were placed in archival boxes whilst archival quality slip-covers replaced those which were not of a good quality.

OUTREACH

The Gozo Archive provided a number of posts commemorating specific highlights related to Gozo’s history to appear on the face-book page of the National Archives of Malta.

Staff from the archive took part in the Open Day held at the National Archives on 21 April. The NAG stand included a selection of historical documents which proved to be very popular with visitors.

From time to time the archive welcomes interested groups who visit the archives and are interested in its collections and its workings.

The Gozo Archive staff with H.E. The President of Malta during her visit to the Archive on 19 November 2024.

1925. THE INTRODUCTION OF MOTORBUSES IN GOZO

Richard Stedall

The first bus known to have run on Gozo (number 144) was built on a Ford model T chassis and was owned by Loreto Xuereb of Qala. His bus is believed to have been in use by May 1925 (and certainly by July 1925) with buses owned by other individuals following soon after. By the end of the summer of 1925 two other buses are known to have been in

the road from where the modern-day bus terminus is located. The third bus was number 192 owned by the Zammit Brothers who lived in Xagħra.

Over the next five years the size of the bus fleet grew considerably to at least 23 buses, quite a number for the relatively small size

average 12 passengers. As it was deemed that the number of buses on the Island was too large for the number of passengers, the fleet was pretty much halved by the end of the 1930s with the number of buses reduced to 14. Those with licences deemed no longer required were able to sell them to individuals on Malta for use as Private Hire buses based in specific locations. During the 1930s the size of buses increased as larger more sturdy chassis were used. By 1939 the capacity for a

new bus had increased to 26 passengers, and the smallest bus still on Gozo seated at least 20 passengers.

The Second World War was tough on the bus industry. Not only was there a national shortage of petrol which led to a significant reduction in the number of bus journeys allowed each day, but also led to chronic shortage of replacement glass for windows and rubber for tyres. There was also a danger

Opposite page: Gozo’s first motor bus was built on a Ford model T chassis with a body built by an unknown craftsman in Malta in early 1925. It was owned by Loreto Xuereb of Qala and the regular driver was Toni Borg, also of Qala (he is the right-most person in this photograph, and his identity has been confirmed by comparing this photo with that of his passport application dated 1922). Toni owned his own buses from around 1930, with three generations of bus 3138 to his name. Photo: John Cremona.

Many of the earliest buses on Gozo did not run for long before being replaced with larger more sturdy models. This photograph shows the second generation of bus 143 when it was brand new in 1932. As was common at the time, the new bus is being blessed by Parish Priest Alfons Maria Hili (1865-1943) in front of St George’s Church in Victoria. Photo: George Pisani.

Fortunato Cini of Xaghra (1916 passport application photograph) was another very early Gozo bus owner-driver, first noted with bus 232 in Spring 1926.

Photo: National Archives of Malta.

Giuseppe Camilleri of Victoria (1915 passport application photograph) was one of the earliest Gozo bus drivers (and presumed owners). His bus was the first 140, a Chevrolet, which he owned until it was bought by Giuseppe Caruana around 1930). Photo: National Archives of Malta.

The report submitted following the air raid on 7 May 1942 where bus driver Anthony

was killed and 12 otherpersons were injured. Extract from the Police Commissioner Occurrence Book.

Gozo Archives, National Archives of Malta.

Saliba

Photo:

from the air with several air raids affecting Gozo. One on the 7th of May 1942 saw what is believed to have been the only fatality in the industry during the War when Anthony Saliba was killed whilst trying to move his bus (number 1948 – a Dodge) to a position of safety in Victoria-Rabat during an air raid.

After the War buses were slowly rebuilt, extended, or totally replaced with new vehicles. Diesel engines also started to replace petrol units with the process completed by the end of the 1950s. Perkins P6 units were the engine of choice though Leyland 350 engines also started to appear.

The fleet had remained static in size since the late 1930s but in 1962 four additional licenses were issued on Gozo. Uniquely they were held in the name of the Gozo Public Transport Company, which was owned equally by all the then bus owners. It has been suggested that to start with they were mainly used during the summer months when the fledgling tourist industry meant extra capacity was needed on certain routes on certain days to cope with the

loads – passenger numbers during the winter remaining low.

Between 1973 and 1975 nine buses were transferred over from Malta to Gozo to again bolster the fleet, especially as the number of visitors to the Island (both Maltese and foreigners) was starting to increase noticeably. Further increases in fleet size took place in 1988 and 1993 taking the total number of buses and coaches on the Island to 39.

Whereas on Malta the licence of the bus stated whether it was to be used for “scheduled” routes or for private “unscheduled” hires, the vehicles on Gozo could be used for both types of work meaning that it would be possible to find a mix of ages and types of vehicle on both local bus services and hires for tourists, depending on whose turn it was to operate on the roster.

With demand continuing to increase, especially during the summer months when large parties of tourists would come over for the day on the ferries, the government

The fourth generation of bus 1903 entered use in 1953. Although it carried a Dodge front for its entire life as a bus, it is believed the chassis was actually a former military Bedford O-type lorry. The bodywork was built on Gozo – one of only two confirmed as such. The body builder was Francis Azzopardi of Victoria-Rabat (known as Ċikku ta’ Dovik) and the owner of the bus was his brother Paul Azzopardi. Photograph: Peter Trevaskis.

announced in 1997 that for every existing licence held by an owner, a second would be issued, thus doubling the fleet to 68 almost overnight. Most of these vehicles were coaches, second-hand from the UK (as had been the case pretty much since the mid1980s) though a number of the coaches were built new locally by Scarnif of Luqa using the brand name “Optimal” for the chassis.

Everything changed on the 3rd of July 2011 when the local bus services were handed over to a new company called Arriva Malta.

Local bus services on Gozo had long been of low frequency, with the most frequent service being that down to the ferry terminal at Mġarr Harbour. Under the new regime timetables were drastically increased with all routes running seven days a week, both summer and winter, with hourly trips starting from as early as before 0600 and running in most cases until at least 2100.

With the local services no longer being operated and the new Arriva routes carrying a lot of school children on some corridors, plus tourists now preferring to either use the Open Top sightseeing buses introduced in 2010 or the far better local bus services to get around, the number of coaches needed on Gozo fell dramatically, with almost half the fleet being deemed surplus to requirements. Many of these vehicles (including most of the surviving vintage buses) moved to new owners on Malta for either use on school contracts or for tourist trips.

In 2015 the local bus routes passed to a new operator, Malta Public Transport (MPT) which was owned by a Spanish bus company. They introduced a new white and green livery, which replaced the blue and cream Arriva had used, which in turn replaced the white, red and grey that had been on Gozo buses since the 1930s.

The third generation of bus 1250 was this former military Dodge T110L with bodywork by Gaetano Zammit of Hamrun. It entered use on Gozo with Joseph Caruana of Victoria-Rabat. Joseph was part of the “ta-Kelies” family who have been involved with public transport since at least the early 1900s (his father drove horse-drawn cabs). The

Anthony Saliba of Żebbuġ (1923 passport application photograph) was the only Gozo bus driver known to have been killed by enemy action during World War 2 on 7 May 1942. His bus was hit, and he died of his injuries later that day. Twelve other persons, including two other bus drivers, were injured also during this airraid. Photo: National Archives of Malta.

Michele Bartolo of Qala (1924 passport application photograph) was joint owner of the first bus 2377, an 11-seat Chevrolet, new in 1929. Photo: National Archives of Malta.

6COURTS AND TRIBUNALS ARCHIVE

The Registers of Patents (Registrum Patentarum), maintained by the Magnia Curia Castellania, the principal secular tribunal in Malta during the Knights of St. John period (1530–1798), are kept at the Courts and Tribunals Archive. These Patent Registers contain details of individuals who departed from Malta, their destination, the name of the vessel, and information about the captain and crew. They also note the date and time of each ship’s departure from Malta.

An intriguing feature of these documents is the presence of drawings and sketches (doodles) on the front or back pages of some fascicles, primarily from the 16th and early 17th centuries. It is presumed that the officers registering the departures made these sketches. These drawings might depict scenes they observed, such as the type of vessel or the number of individuals embarking—or perhaps their colleagues.

Notably, some registers feature scribblings of vessels, such as those on the front page of the 1599 –1610 fascicle (overleaf), alongside numbers or test markings of writing tools. This fascicle (1632–1633) even includes drawings of two individuals alongside other scribbles (above).

RESEARCH

Research activity at the Courts and Tribunals Archive during 2024 witnessed a significant decline compared to the previous year. The number of researchers accessing the archives decreased by 26%, with 71 researchers recorded, compared to 96 in 2023. March recorded the highest attendance for the year. Additionally, the total research hours amounted to 186, showing a sharp decline of 83 hours compared to 2023.

The decrease in attendance and research hours may be attributed to several factors: a reduction in academic assignments and research projects by law students focusing on archived documents and a decline in requests for property-related research, particularly in areas such as Subbasti documentation and civil litigations.

Despite the decline in attendance and research hours, document consultation experienced a significant increase. A total of 321 documents/volumes were consulted in 2024, leading to a 140% increase compared to the previous year. This surge made 2024 the second-highest year in document consultations over the past five years.

The Amministrazione dei Beni Pubblici was the most frequently consulted fond, followed by documents related to the sale of slaves preserved in the Tribunal Armamentorum archives, mostly by foreign academics. The 18th-century Suppliche di Botteghe as well as records of the 19th-century civil court were also among the most accessed collections.

Notably, three publications based on previous research conducted at the Banca Giuratale have been released in recent months: Bread and Bakers in Eighteenth-Century Malta by Dr. Noel Buttigieg, Health, Plague, and Society by Prof. Carmel Cassar, and Morte o Fortuna: Corsairs in Malta 1747–1798 by Mr. Liam Gauci.

CATALOGUING AND CLASSIFICATION

Over the past two years, we have meticulously catalogued approximately 14 collections of legal documents from various courts and tribunals, spanning the years 1530–1798, down to the item level. In the past twelve months, we reviewed several fonds catalogued and accessed which are now available on AToM, including the Tribunal Segnaturæ Justitiæ, Camera Computorum Communis Aerarii, Curiae Episcopalis et Provicarialis Notabilis Civitatis, and Officium Syndicatus Congregationis Munium et Belli. Additionally, volumes from the Officium Syndicatus Congregationis Munium et Belli have been paginated.

The cataloguing process at Mdina’s repository included the compilation of denunciations and verbal proceedings from the 19th-century Criminal Court. We are currently reviewing this data and will soon make it publicly accessible.

Simultaneously, the National Archive is in the process of classifying the music collections of Spiro Zammit and Vinny Vella, the latter having passed away in 2024. These collections were donated to the archive by Emanuel Zammit and Vinny Vella’s children, respectively.

Cataloguing of both collections is currently underway. Spiro Zammit’s music collection comprises several authentic band music manuscripts and an extensive collection of photographs. Vinny Vella’s collection contains original compositions, as well as arrangements and works by other Maltese composers that contributed to local musical variety performances.

In addition to these projects, a review and correction of some of the passports that were inappropriately accessible on the Archives Portal Europe have been carried out, ensuring proper accessibility standards are now met.

DIGITISATION PROJECTS

The digitisation of the Consolato del Mare collection by the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library (HMML) of Minnesota, that started in May 2023, continued to move ahead. The first series, Acta Originalia (1697–1798), was completed in 2024 and during the summer, work progressed on the second series (Acta Originalia (1800–1814)). By the end of 2024, 23 bundles had been digitised. During 2024 approximately 200,000 digital images have been created.

In the meantime, the National Archive completed the digitisation of the Frank Vassallo music collection. This project, initiated in 2023 with the assistance of international interns at the National Archive, comprised 9,700 files.

Public prosecutors from Italy, Germany, Lithuania and Romania visit the Courts and Tribunal Archive within the European Judicial Exchange Programme, 17 October 2024.

EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL VISITS

Department of History, University of Malta

At the beginning of the year under review, the Courts and Tribunal Judiciary Section had the pleasure of hosting an educational visit from students of the Department of History, led by Dr. Joan Abela. This visit provided students with valuable insights into the historical and judicial significance of archived documents.

Visit by the HMML Board of Directors

On April 18, 2024, the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library (HMML) Board of Directors visited the digitisation laboratory at the Mdina repository. During their visit, Board members were presented with a selection of digitised fonds, highlighting the results of HMML’s ongoing collaboration with the National Archives and gaining further insights into the technical processes and preservation efforts involved in the project.

Music Students

On May 12, 2024, music students from Junior College, accompanied by their tutor, Mro. Manoel Pirotta, visited our premises in Mdina. During their visit, they explored the music collections of Prof. Charles Camilleri and Mro Frank Vassallo, along with other manuscripts preserved by the National Archives.

The students were also given a guided tour of the halls, where they viewed volumes from various courts and tribunals, and had the opportunity to observe the digitisation facility in action.

Academic visit from Frankfurt’s Art Academy

On May 24, 2024, a group of German students from Frankfurt’s Art Academy visited the Banca Giuratale. Their focus was on studying the representation of Maltese Christian identity within historical legal documents.

Heritage Interpretation Students, Tourism Studies

On October 7, 2024, third-year students specializing in heritage interpretation from the Department of Tourism Management, University of Malta, visited the National Archives branch in Mdina. The visit aimed to enhance their understanding of archival processes and heritage documentation.

European Judicial Exchange Programme

On October 17, 2024, the National Archives welcomed prosecutors from Italy, Germany, Lithuania, and Romania. Their visit was part of an exchange programme organised by the European Judicial Training Network (EJTN) and coordinated through the Attorney General’s Office.

Bachelor of Laws (Hons) Students Visits

In November 2024, two visits were organised for Bachelor of Laws (Hons) students from the University of Malta, under the guidance of Prof. Raymond Mangion:

• November 13, 2024: A small group of first-year students explored documents related to maritime and commercial law, with a particular focus on the Tribunal Armamentorum and the Consolato del Mare.

• November 22, 2024: A second group of 25 students visited with a specific interest in criminal proceedings, gaining practical exposure to historical legal documentation.

Bachelor of Law (Hons) students exploring documents related to criminal proceedings at the Courts and Tribunal Archive, 22 November 2024.

KARMENU FAVA EXHIBITION

An exhibition honoring the legacy of renowned sports photojournalist Karmenu Fava (1917–2009) was held at the entrance of the Banca Giuratale in Mdina between 21 November 2024 and 6 January 2025. Curated by Dr. Steve Borg, the exhibition was inaugurated by Dr Owen Bonnici, the Minister for National Heritage, Arts, and Local Government.

This remarkable exhibition captured both Karmenu Fava’s life and work as well as the essence of Maltese sports, reflecting the vibrant spirit and resilience of the Maltese people.

Media Initiatives

On April 20, 2024, Archivist Noel D’Anastas represented the National Archives in a discussion on the future of libraries and archives during the radio show Agora, broadcast on Campus 103.5 and hosted by Prof. Mario Thomas Vassallo from the

Department of Public Policy. He also appeared on the television program Għaddi s’hawn, where he discussed various aspects of the open day held at the National Archives of Malta’s (NAM) head office.

As part of a personal initiative, Noel D’Anastas continued producing a series of radio shows titled Mill-Arkivji, broadcast as part of a local station’s winter schedule of cultural and educational programs. These shows focus on research and archival documents housed in Maltese archives, particularly materials under the care of the National Archives. Podcasts of these episodes are available on the University of Malta library’s website.

Noel D’Anastas received recognition for his contributions to media in 2024. He was nominated for a Malta Journalism Award in the culture and entertainment category for an article that featured National Archives documentation. Furthermore, the National Council of the Maltese Language recognised his outstanding use of the Maltese language in his written work.

NOTARIAL REGISTERS ARCHIVE

7

Overleaf: Dr Jiri Vnoucek (Royal Danish Library), guiding the Notarial Registers

Archive conservators through the process of transforming raw animal hides into high-quality parchment.

A collection of collection of silk scarves, garments and bags designed by Saz Mifsud and inspired by Items from the Notarial Registers

Archive collection.

THE NOTARIAL ARCHIVES FOUNDATION

On 25 July 2023 the National Archives of Malta signed an agreement with the Notarial Archives Foundation (NAF) for the management of the operations at the Notarial Registers Archive (NRA). Following two decades of voluntary efforts in rehabilitating, preserving, and raising awareness about the NRA, the Foundation was entrusted with the responsibility of leading this important archive.

The NAF is a voluntary organisation, previously known as the Notarial Archives Resource Council, that was established in 2004 and that is directed by a Board of Administrators. The NAF President of the current administration is Dr Joan Abela. The NAF Board delegates the day-to-day running of the NRA to the Notarial Registers Archive Committee (NRAC), which is made up of five members, who meet at least once a week to discuss the NRA operations. The NRAC also meets with a delegation from the National Archives of Malta every month to provide regular updates.

The NRA team grew substantially in 2024 and by the end of the year consisted of 14 employees and 1 intern who operated within the Departments of Administration, Conservation, and Knowledge. The Foundation seeks to expand its HR capacity further in 2025.

KEY EVENTS AND MILESTONES

The NRA Museum

The NRA Museum was officially opened on 23 November 2023 and the Foundation has welcomed visitors and hosted specialised tours throughout 2024. The NRA Museum truly reflects the diversity of documents found at the Notarial Registers Archive and has inspired visitors to learn more about the history contained within. During 2024 further improvements were made to the Museum to ensure the correct preservation of the collection and to enhance visitor experience. The Museum may boast of prominent visitors in 2024, including Madam President of the European Parliament Dr Roberta Metsola.

The Museum has also been a source of inspiration for local fashion designer Saz Mifsud, who launched a collection of silk scarves, garments and bags inspired by the decorated and marbled papers from the NRA collection, as well as the portolan charts and other notable documents that are exhibited

in the Museum. Through her collection, awareness about the NRA collection is being raised whilst reaching a wide local and international audience.

Amidst these positive developments, the Foundation has had to face severe challenges with the systems installed in the Museum via the ERDF project, so much so that it had to temporarily close the Museum for some months in the latter half of the year. The Foundation has worked hand in hand with its architect and engineer to address these issues and devise a long-term and sustainable solution.

Monthly lecture series

The Foundation launched its monthly lecture series in 2024. These are open to the public and have been well attended by volunteers, staff, and visitors alike. Speakers delivered lectures on a wide variety of topics which were researched at the NRA, such as doodles drawn on notarial deeds, the production of wine in Malta, and the recycled liturgical music manuscripts found in the NRA collection.

A session of the Valletta Carmelite Priory Library project aimed at safeguarding this historic collection

Saving the historic library of the Carmelite Priory in Valletta

In 2022, the historic library of the Carmelite Priory in Valletta suffered severe water damage during a winter storm. Not only was the wooden library structure damaged, but so were countless manuscripts and books. In February 2024 the NAF and its committed team of volunteers started to carefully remove the books and manuscripts from the shelves so that the wooden library structure could undergo urgent restoration. While emptying the shelves, NAF volunteers are also superficially dusting the books and inscribing them in an inventory. The books are then placed in archival boxes and temporarily stored in a safe area within the Priory. All work is carried out under the supervision of the NAF’s warranted book and paper conservators Chanelle Mifsud Briffa and Maria Borg.

The Foundation has partnered with The Alfred Mizzi Foundation, which has committed to sponsoring the preliminary works and surveys needed for the conservation of the wooden library structure. This will ensure that the structure is saved for posterity in a professional manner.

THE CONSERVATION DEPARTMENT

Conservation projects

In 2024, the Conservation Department carried out conservation work on four items from the NRA collection, which included recycled medieval parchment fragments and a sixteenth-century notarial volume. These treatments were generously sponsored through the NAF’s Adopt-a-Notary scheme. Works mainly consisted of mechanical surface cleaning, paper repairs, text consolidation, sewing consolidation and replacement where necessary, and consolidation of various aspects of the bindings. Before and after photography and condition reports were updated accordingly.

Disinfestation project

The NRA collection, which is currently migrating from the off-site storage facility back to the NRA repository, is being disinfested using Anoxia treatment prior to its arrival at the Archive. The disinfestation cycle is forty days long. When ready, the boxes, in which the notarial volumes are packed, are inspected by the NRA conservators for any

The Notarial Registers Archive staff.

signs of insect activity. Each box is given an individual barcode for identification purposes and is individually sealed in plastic. In 2024 over 1400 boxes of volumes were disinfested.

Emergency preparedness

The Conservation Department prioritised emergency preparedness training in 2024, ensuring that all members of the Department have the necessary knowledge and skills to act promptly in the case of an emergency. To this end, conservation emergency kits were set up in various locations within the premises, most notably in the repositories, to ensure that the required materials are easily accessible at all times.

Parchment-making in Malta

In 2024 the Notarial Archives Foundation collaborated with the Malta Public Abattoir to launch a remarkable initiative towards the production of parchment and the revival of a traditional skill in Malta. Dr Jiri Vnoucek from the Royal Danish Library, a renowned expert in parchment-making, was invited to guide the NAF Conservators and the Public Abattoir through the elaborate process of transforming raw animal hides into high-quality parchment. This collaboration is ultimately championing a sustainable approach to waste reduction and, as the project expands, it will foster unique knowledge-sharing opportunities for local and international audiences alike.

THE KNOWLEDGE DEPARTMENT

Key achievements in 2024

The Knowledge Department ensures that all data at the NRA is properly formatted, standardised, and easily searchable. Key achievements in 2024 included the standardisation of transcriptions, guided by the expertise of the Assistant Director Vanessa Buhagiar, a qualified palaeographer. The Chief Knowledge Officer Charlene Ellul also consolidated data related to stored boxes, improving tracking and search capabilities for staff to locate required documents efficiently. All movements of documents, whether between storage facilities or within the NRA,

were systematically documented to maintain accurate records. In 2024 the Locations Database was also created, wherein locations mentioned in notarial deeds are being catalogued in this database to enhance the accessibility and searchability of the NRA collection.

Additionally, the Department developed comprehensive policies for its core functions, including cataloguing, digitisation, transcription, Reading Room management, and storage operations. These initiatives reflect the Department’s commitment to maintaining high standards of data management and supporting the NRA’s mission of preservation and accessibility.

Digitisation, IT, and Outreach

In 2024 the NAF set up the digitisation equipment and started the digitisation process of the NRA collection. The equipment is highly specialised and allows the digitisation team to adjust the cradle according to the dimensions of each volume from the collection. A digitisation policy was also drafted which covers all essential steps within the digitisation process, from selecting documents to the long-term preservation of digital records.

In 2024, the Foundation made significant strides in enhancing its IT services to benefit both staff and the general public. These efforts aimed to streamline internal operations while providing a more user-friendly experience for researchers and visitors.

The NAF also set up an Outreach section to expand its public engagement and visibility. This section focuses on developing and executing branding and marketing strategies, creating and managing media content, and maintaining the NAF’s media archive. It also oversees the NAF’s outreach programme, facilitating visits to the Notarial Registers Archive and fostering collaborations.

Cataloguing and the Reading Room

In 2024, over 1,600 volumes were catalogued. This process was the result of interDepartmental collaboration and the work of volunteers. Upon the arrival of disinfested boxes containing notarial volumes at the

NRA, each individual volume is meticulously dusted by the volunteers and subsequently catalogued. During this latter process, a unique identifier is assigned to each volume, which is then tagged with an NFC tag. The volumes are then moved to the climate-controlled and horizontally-shelved repositories, where each shelf is also assigned a unique identifier. Most of the volumes migrated in 2024 were indices.

After five years of closure, the NRA Reading Room started accommodating in-situ research again in 2024. The NRA Reading Room staff also continued to provide exceptional remote support to researchers by accessing notarial deeds at the off-site storage facility and sharing digital copies of the requested deed with the researchers. This commitment to service underscores the NAF’s ongoing efforts to facilitate and enhance research opportunities for all users.

Notarypedia

In 2024 discussions on the Notarypedia project were concluded. This project will be

launched in 2025 and will be spread over three years. It is led by the University of Malta with the support of the NAF and will be financed by the Ministry for National Heritage, the Arts, and Local Government. The foundations of Notarypedia were established during a two-year research project that concluded in 2020 and earned international recognition, including an innovation prize from the Council of Notariates of the EU.

Notarypedia leverages Artificial Intelligence to construct the Notarypedia Knowledge Graph (NKG), aiming to bridge the gap between AI and the Humanities and fostering accessibility, collaboration, and research excellence. By analysing transcribed notarial deeds, Notarypedia employs AI techniques to extract entities and relations, populating a dynamic knowledge graph supported by a purpose-built ontology. Future developments will focus on enhancing transcription, entity extraction, and graph completion through large language models and graph learning techniques.

Notarial Registers Archive staff members participate in a First Aid Course, September 2024.

Health & Safety Measures

In 2024, the NAF continued its efforts to ensure that all necessary legal requirements regarding Health and Safety at the workplace were fulfilled, implemented, and enforced. A risk assessment of the premises was carried out in May 2024, allowing the NAF to implement the guidelines provided thereafter for a safer workspace. Furthermore, in July 2024 the staff followed a Fire Wardens Course, ensuring that the staff have the necessary skills to act promptly in the case of an emergency. In September 2024, six staff members from different departments attended a First Aid Course organised at the

NRA to ensure that the first response can be given to staff, volunteers, and visitors if required.

At the end of the year, the staff was also provided with basic training on the fire mitigating systems on the premises. Mandatory maintenance on all related equipment was also carried out. The NAF fulfilled its legal requirements, including drawing up an evacuation plan and conducting and preparing for fire drills. Additionally, the NAF invested in new First Aid equipment such as First Aid kits and vests.

A lecture within the Monthly Lecture Series dealing with topics researched at the Notarial Registers Archive.

FASRON 201 IN MALTA

FASRON 201 was a Fleet Air Support Squadron within the US Navy that operated in Malta in the 1950s. The Americans first appeared for short stays at Ħal Far (Malta) when the United States Navy squadron VP-20 flew in from Port Lyautey (Morocco) in 1950. A permanent establishment of the US Navy was set up in 1953 when FASRON 201 made Ħal Far its home.

In 2024 Dr George Said donated to the National Archives a large set of slides consisting of photos taken by an American serviceman who was serving with FASRON 201, while based at Ħal Far airfield in Malta.

As a naval aircraft servicing unit, FASRON 201 brought with it two types of aircraft: Lockheed

WV-2 Warning Stars and Fairchild R4Qs. Two squadrons were permanently based at FASRON 201, namely VW-2 with Super Constellations and the Marine Squadron MAG-VR-35 operating Flying Boxcars for logistics support duties. Other squadrons were frequent visitors.

The squadron’s presence attracted several other types of visiting US Navy aircraft, including P2V Neptunes and shipboard types such as F4U Corsairs and F2H Banshees.

FASRON 201 was based at Ħal Far (HMS Falcon) airfield as a ‘guest’ of the Royal Navy. As ‘guest’, the US Navy did not pay a rent, but it shared in the maintenance costs, based

US Navy personnel at FASRON 201 base in Ħal Far during the 1950s. George Said Collection.

on the number of landings and take-offs of those aircraft allocated to FASRON and other visiting aircraft.

Moreover, the US Navy carried out several constructional works, including the Control Tower, the six ammunition storage buildings, several huts and the buildings at the end of both runways (south) in 1958. Runway 13/31 was re-surfaced in April-May 1959 while Runway 09/27 was given a new surface between June and July 1959.

By then, Ħal Far airfield had been developed to its maximum capacity, and no further room for expansion was available. In September

1959 the US Navy moved FASRON 201 to Sigonella, in Sicily.

The former site of FASRON 201 still exists today at Ħal Far and has some unique American architecture. It should be preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Besides many photos of FASRON 201 this collection includes many photos of village and city life in Malta at the time. It is an important collection of records from both a military-research aspect as well as from a social aspect.

We thank Dr Said for his generous donation.

Maltese workmen building Nissen huts in Ħal Far. George Said Collection.

The George Said Collection includes slides that show life in Malta during the 1950s. Girls in Mosta Church with their heads covered. George Said Collection.

Rows of Nissen huts in Ħal Far (HMS Falcon). George Said Collection.

Inside a Nissen hut. George Said Collection.

Overleaf: Aerial photo of Paola Square; one may note the church still being built (left).

Volunteer Raisa Zammit

2024 has been a positive year focusing on preservation, digitisation and continuing the enrichment of our cultural heritage. The primary role of the audiovisual archivist is to ensure the long-term accessibility and usability of the materials for research, education, and outreach. Our mission for this year was to continue the digitisation and cataloging standards set in the previous year and to increase focus on digitisation projects, meticulous film restoration and expanding our outreach and public engagement. The archivist must also abide by copyright, privacy laws and intellectual property rights, whilst also keeping in mind the significant ethical considerations which play a vital role when dealing with wishes of donors, cultural sensitivity and ensuring fair access to collections.

In 2024, NAVI recorded 48 new accessions consisting of around 16,500 images, 230 moving images, 75 audio recordings and around 235 items of ephemeral nature which are directly linked to audiovisual collections. Throughout 2024, NAVI not only focused on digitisation and cataloging of accessions from the current year but also maintained a balance with digitisation and cataloging of accessions from previous years. With the cataloging standards and digitisation methods started in 2023, NAVI reached 40 processed accessions which include the digitisation of 28,000 audiovisual items and the full catalogue of 14 accessions while 26 other accessions are currently in the process of being fully catalogued. These accessions will see the continuation of cataloging spill onto the new year ahead. Therefore, in 2024, NAVI holds around 374,000 individual items, both digital and physical, in total. Almost 30,000 more items than 2023, which stood at around 354,000 individual items. The items vary from photographic prints to positive/negative film, reels, audio tapes, cassettes, VHS tapes, reels, ephemera, etc. Such ephemera includes AV equipment from cameras to projectors, trophies, pin badges, theater scripts, and many more.

A few highlights from some of this year’s new accessions include ‘The Edwin Galea (1934-2023) Collection’ which includes audiovisual material covering mostly photos and footage of Valletta, family related photos and footage, footage of the Royal Visit in 1954 and audio recordings from the 1964 Malta Independance. An important collection which saw thorough development this year is the ‘Cecil Satariano Film Collection’ consisting

of 5 films by Cecil Satariano (1930–1996), Maltese filmmaker, photographer, designer and author. Throughout the year, and with the hard work and dedication of Ms. Veronica Galea, we managed to reach a huge milestone in the restoration and digitisation of the Satariano films which are currently within our repository. The 5 films, ‘Giuseppe’ (1972), ‘Ilona’ (1974), ‘The Beach’ (1973), ‘I’m Furious – Red’ (1970) and ‘Katarin’ (1977) all saw extensive restoration procedures, with the added benefit of being adaptable to a wider viewing experience, such as cinema viewing. The newly restored and digitized film ‘Giuseppe’ had its debut at the Tbilisi International Film Festival in September 2024, which marked a proud moment for the National Archives of Malta and NAVI. Audiences were captivated with the restored visuals and enhanced sound quality which celebrates not only the artistic significance of the film but also highlights NAVI’s commitment to preserving cultural treasures.

Another significant new accession is ‘The Harold Frederick Rodgers Photo Album’, a substantial collection of images and annotations by Mr. Rodgers’ (1911-1979) during his time in the RAF and whilst stationed in Malta between 1938 and 1939. The various images portray the everyday life of Malta and the Maltese, well-known and prominent sites still under construction, aerial photography, naval ships and planes, etc. The hand-written annotations by Mr. Rodgers adds a personal touch to the album and enhances the album’s value.

This year, we also continued the digitisation and inventory of one of the largest audiovisual

accessions received to date – The Times of Malta Photographic Collection, received in 2022 with an agreement by and between the National Archives of Malta and Allied Newspapers Limited (C-308) of Times of Malta. This accession continued to see the Times of Malta’s photographic collection being conserved, rehoused, inventoried and digitized. The work carried out on this accession could not have been done without the help of a number of students and volunteers who have successfully digitized and inventoried around 6,000 images in 2024, increasing the collection to around 17,000 digitized images to date.

Another compelling accession is that of ‘The George Said Collection’ where various photographic film negatives and reels were donated to the National Archives of Malta. One of the interesting items donated as part of this accession is a glass plate of the Museum Station in Rabat (Mtarfa), Għeriexem Valley, c. 1900’s. This glass plate, although donated to the National Archives of Malta and having undergone conservation and digitisation processes in-house, has been passed on to The Malta Railway Foundation, with the help of Mr. Paul Galea, to be displayed in the Birkirkara Railway Museum. The digitized glass plate was then exhibited during the National Archives of Malta Open Day in April 2024.

A thorough list of NAVI’s progresses performed in 2024 may be found hereunder:

Progress for items accessioned in 2024:

Accession number and title Description

2024-001 – Ernie Miller Collection

2024-002 (also part of 2020-06) - 3/11 Regiment RMA (T) Association Private Deposit

2024-003 - The Vincent Bonaci Collection

A collection of digital surrogates of photos, shot by Ernest William Thomas Miller, during his posting in Malta (1951-1959). Continuation of accession no. 2023-021.

Two photo albums portraying moments of some of the summer camps organized annually to all members.

Photos of confectionary sweets and decorations by Vincent (Ċensu) Bonaci (20 March 1933 - 9 March 2015). Donation made by his daughter, Ms. Sylvana Cassar (neè Bonaci). Photos taken by various photographers, one of which was Charles Agius, Sliema.

Progress

Digitisation complete.

Digitisation and cataloging complete.

Digitisation complete.

2024-008 - The Edwin Galea (Galea Art Studio) Collection

Audio-visual material belonging to Edwin Galea (1934-2023) covering mostly Valletta, Galea’s Art shop, Maltese lifestyle, family lifestyle, holidays, etc.

Donations made by the family – wife Josephine, children: Mary, Pierre, Edwin Jr., Jeannette. Footage also contains Edwin’s father – Joseph Galea (1904-1985), the original owner of Galea’s Art Studio/Shop in Valletta.

Digitisation of moving image and audio reels completed. Cataloging in progress.

Digitisation and cataloging of photographs in progress.

Progress for items accessioned in 2024:

2024-009 - The Mark Mifsud Bonnici Collection (Part of)

2023-093 + 2024-017The Cecil Satariano Film Collection (Veronica Galea)

2024-018 - The Karmenu Fava Photographic Collection - Pin Badge Collection

2024-030 - Perfecta Advertising Limited Collection - Louis Borg Manchè

Private deposit consisting of ephemera, paper documents, diaries, newspaper cuttings, official reports, fortress orders and personal notes of two individuals - Mr. Walter Salomone and Mr. Maurice Mifsud Bonnici. Mr. Salomone was a minister during the 1927-1930 Gerald Strickland’s Compact Government, as well as a Liaison Officer (Captain) in the Royal Irish Fusiliers during the Second World War. Mr. Mifsud Bonnici was a teenager during the second world war, and was an engineer tasked with establishing a telephone system for government, at one point Chairman of Telemalta.

Film reels of original film titled ‘Giuseppe’ by filmmaker Cecil Satariano.

Digitisation complete.

2024-031 - Alfred Camilleri Collection

A collection of pin badges as a continuation to accessions 2020-49 and 2021-104.

Perfecta Advertising Limited was established on 3 January 1966 and provided marketing communications to businesses of every category for 56 years. The company stopped trading on 31 December 2021. Having developed its business both locally and overseas, it was always amongst the foremost marketing communication agencies in Malta. The variety of its clientele gave it the opportunity to delve into new potential areas of their field, and their expertise led to them collaborating with national institutions - the Malta Stock Exchange, Air Malta, Bank of Valletta and the Treasury. The collection includes photos and items of ephemera.

Photographs taken by Alfred Camilleri and his brother(s) of funeral of Nerik Mizzi, demonstration in favour of Archbishop Gonzi, Maltese chaplain visiting Maltese soldiers in Germany, procession in Floriana, funeral in Floriana, petrol station, Malta Independence Day, Floriana Football Club in Gozo, and photographs of Floriana.

Digitisation complete.

Digitisation complete, cataloging in progress.

Digitisation of photographs complete.

Digitisation and cataloging complete.

Volunteer Skye Vassallo

Volunteer Norbert Gingell

Progress for items accessioned in 2024:

2024-033 - The George Said Collection Collection consists of VHS tapes, reels, and mounted slides by various, unknown photographers, covering dates 1954-1959, Ħal Far, FASRON 201 Special ‘Fleet Aircraft Servicing Squadron’. Items also include arrival of floating dock (LARA 1) in Malta in June 1995, Carnival, Visit of Archbishop Giuseppe Mercieca, Indian Troops in Malta and Gozo, etc. Reel includes film on civil defense in Malta.

2024-034 - The Karmenu Gruppetta Collection

The collection consists of photographic prints, newspaper cutouts, hand-written notes, and short stories, etc., belonging to actor and playwrite Karmenu Gruppetta (20 December 192220 February 1977). Collection donated by his niece, Sylvana Cassar. The photos contain head shots, stage photos, childhood, and family photos, etc. The collection also includes a portfolio of newspaper cut-outs, article mentions, scripts, etc.

Digitisation and cataloging of moving images in progress.

Digitisation of photographs completed. Cataloging in progress.

Digitisation and cataloging complete.

2024-041 - The Harold Frederick Rodgers Photo Album

This collection consists of photographs taken by Mr. Harold Frederick Rodgers (born 1911, died 1979) while stationed in Malta between 19381939. Rodgers joined the RAF in his late 20s and was a trained photographer, very often doing aerial photography.

Digitisation and cataloging complete.

2024-052 - The Bonavia Family Photograph

2024-055 - The Ġanni Micallef Collection

2024-058 - The Lochhead Family Collection

2024-066 - James Mc Manus Collection

2024-072 - Dr Paul Galea Collection

2024-074 - The Jacqueline Formosa Collection (part of)

An image of the Bonavia family in Birkirkara. Digitisation complete.

Photos contain religious iconography, feast bands, group portraits, and an image includes Dom Mintoff viewing a religious banquet set-up.

A collection of large transparency films deposited by Ms. Elizabeth Lochhead, belonging to her husband, Ian Colin Lochhead. The transparencies were used in the publication ‘The Siege of Malta 1565’ and consist of photos of artworks of the Siege of Malta as portrayed by M.Perez d’Allecio at the Grand Master’s Palace in Valletta.

A series of ephemera which the McManus family had collected during James McManus posting to Malta between 1975-1977.

Slides of carnival from 1969, and Rabat feast in 1973 and 1977.

Images of Mr. Alfred Laferla (depositor’s father) at work in the Ħal Luqa Civil Airport. Accession also contains items of ephemera.

Digitisation and catalogue complete.

Digitisation and cataloging complete.

Digitisation complete.

Digitisation and cataloging complete.

Digitisation and cataloging complete.

Progress for items accessioned in 2024:

2024-075 - The Loraine Mercieca Collection

Images of a funerary service at the Saint Domenic church in Valletta amongst other locations from the 1950s, images of depositor’s grandfather, Mr. Lawrence Griscti in New York, United States of America in the 1920s, an image of a victorious regatta team on their boat in 1928, and images of the depositor’s mother, Ċettina Griscti (neè Grima) and family gathered around a tape player, listening to a tape from a relative in Australia in the mid 1950s.

Digitisation and cataloging complete.

2024-078 - Joseph Navarro Collection

2024-093 - The Joseph Zammit Collection

The collection includes images of the Baviera School from 1960 to 1969; images of postwar Kalkara; carnival; vehicles, vessels, and aircrafts; and images of the depositor’s maternal grandfather, Mr. Espedito Fitzpatrick (a cook with the RMA) and his father, Mr. James Fitzpatrick (Royal Navy).

A photographic album consisting of B&W and sepia photographic prints from the 1950s. Photographs consist of locations such as St John’s Co-Cathedral and St Publius Church. Persons such as Archbishop Mikiel Gonzi, St George Preca and Queen Elizabeth during her visit to Malta in 1954. The photos also include the laying of the 1st stone of the Blata l-Bajda Chapel - Il-Kappella talMadonna tal-Midalja Mirakoluża (The Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal).

Digitisation complete.

Digitisation complete and catalogue in progress.

2024-096 - The Francis Cremona Collection

2024-097 - The Emmanuel Photo Studio Collection

Digital photos of the Coronation of Titular painting and related celebrations in 1975. Photos taken by Mr. Francis Cremona (1929-1999), father of the depositor, Mr. John Cremona.

This collection of photographic prints was donated by Ms. Rose Busuttil, daughter of Emmanuel Busuttil. It consists of views of Malta, family photos, opera stars and musicians (mostly working at the Orpheum Theatre), Army and Navy photos. The ‘Emanuel Photo Studio’ started in Bormla (in front of the Dockyard) and moved to Gzira in 1935.

Digitisation complete and catalogue in progress.

Digitisation and catalogue in progress.

2024-100 - The Vinny Vella Music Collection

The collection comprises of music compositions - mostly authentic manuscripts by Maestro (Mro.) Vinny Vella, and other Maltese composers, including Joey Bellizzi, Lee Spiteri, Carmelo Zammit, J.B. Cassar, and Tony Carr. It also contains music arrangements by Mro Vella of Jazz standards and popular songs, some of which are photocopies that were performed by him and his band. The collection also consists of photographs and newspaper cutouts.

Digitisation complete, cataloging in progress.

Progress for items accessioned in 2024:

2024-101 – The Peter Paul Ciantar Collection

2024-153 - The Guido Baldacchino Collection

2024-156 - The Leonard William Brown Collection

Photos of St George’s feast in Rabat, Gozo 1967, and photos of actors from Maltese TV programmes.

This collection consists of photos showing feast scenes at Kappella Tal-Providenza, limits of Siġġiewi, apparently held on 11 September 1938. Another set of photos highlight a ceremony at Siġġiewi Parish Church, where a British service member joined the Catholic Church and a group photo. The blast walls indicate that the photo was shot during the Second World War.

The deposit consists of audio-visual material taken by Leonard William Frederick Brown during his four years stationed in Malta with the Air Ministry (1958-1962).

Progress for items accessioned prior to 2024:

Accession title Description

2013-019 - Maltese Folk Music and Instruments - Dr Karl Partridge and Prof. Frank Jeal

2020-06 (also part of 2024-002) - 3/11 Regiment RMA (T) Association Private Deposit

2020-42 - The Guido Stilon CollectionGrace Cilia Vincenti

2021- 025 – The Eddie Fenech Adami Collection

2022-034 - Times of Malta historic photographic archive

2022-062 - The Kevin Casha Photographic Collection

Field studies concerning the construct and playing of the Maltese Żaqq (bagpipe). The collection includes notes and diaries of the study, photographic slides and an original Żaqq.

Two photo albums portraying moments of some of the summer camps organized annually for all members.

This Photographic collection includes portraits, personal and family photographs, festivities, transportation, trades, landscapes of the Maltese Islands, and numerous photographs of overseas locations, among others

The collection includes photographic prints and several interviews.

Deposit by the Times of Malta through an agreement entered as of 19th August 2022 by and between the National Archives of Malta and Allied Newspapers Limited (C-308) of Times of Malta.

Photographic positive slides created by the Kevin Casha Photographic Services Ltd. The collection includes studio and outdoor portraits, events of various nature, locations, natural landscapes etc. The collection also includes photographs taken overseas.

Digitisation complete, cataloging in progress.

Digitisation complete, cataloging in progress.

Digitisation complete, cataloging in progress.

Progress

Digitisation and cataloging complete.

Digitisation complete and cataloging in progress.

Digitisation complete, cataloging in progress.

Digitisation complete

Digitisation and inventory in progress.

Digitisation complete and cataloging in progress

Progress for items accessioned prior to 2024:

2023-014 - The Simon Cusens Collection

2023-022 – The Louis Borg Manchè Collection

Raw TV production footage originally donated to Mr. Cusens from Ms. Molloy (co-producer with her husband Alan Murgatroyd) of a 1-hour video production in the UK titled ‘Convoy’ (Channel 4, 1994) + other pedestal/WW2 Malta media collected by Mr. Cusens.

Perfecta Advertising Limited was established on 3 January 1966 and provided marketing communications to businesses of every category for 56 years. The company stopped trading on 31 December 2021. Having developed its business both locally and overseas, it was always amongst the foremost marketing communication agencies in Malta. The variety of its clientele gave it the opportunity to delve into new potential areas of their field, and their expertise led to them collaborating with national institutions - the Malta Stock Exchange, Air Malta, Bank of Valletta, and the Treasury. The collection includes photos and items of ephemera.

Digitisation completed by Public Broadcasting Services Ltd and cataloging in progress (by PBS and NAM).

Digitisation complete.

2023-031 - Mariella Mamo

Photos of Sergeant Edward Briffa and cake for Coronation banquet. Accompanied by letters of appraisal and thanks for his services on 3 separate occasions:

Digitisation complete and cataloging in progress

2023-054 - Raymond Bonello private deposit

1 letter from Private Secretary to the Prime Minister on reception at Auberge D’Aragon in honor of Their Royal Highness the Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Duke of Edinburgh on the 16th of January 1951 (letter dated 31st January 1951);

1 letter from Prime Minister Giorgio Borg Olivier on occasion of buffet prepared for reception at Auberge D’Aragon for Her Majesty, The Queen (letter dated 11th May 1954);

1 letter from John J. Cole, Minister of Emigration and Labour, on appreciation for excellent service and cuisine on occasion of cocktail party at Auberge D’Aragon on Thursday 17th January 1952 in honor of Mr. Arthur Deakin (letter dated 5th February 1952).

Family photos from Mr. Raymond Bonello including photos of relatives who emigrated abroad, family portraits, religious portraiture (Holy Communion photos) and a photo of his grandfather with a Maltese ox on his farm.

Digitisation and cataloging complete.

Top photo: Overhead scan of The Harold Frederick Rodgers Photo Album. Accession 2024-041. These scans were taken prior to removal of photos from the album for further conservation and for adequate digitisation of individual photos. This process also ensured that annotations made by Mr Rodgers were recorded along with the referenced photo. In this case, the photos were placed back into the album and preserved along with the annotations.

Bottom photo: A digital surrogate of a photographic print from The Harold Frederick Rodgers Photo Album. Accession 2024-041. Pedestrians walking up and down Republic Street in Valletta, corner with St. John’s street.

Progress for items accessioned prior to 2024:

2023-061 - The Jacqueline Formosa Collection

2023-064 - The Joseph Ellul Collection

The collection includes a 1926 passport of Lawrence Grixti. A wedding album dated 26 November 1961 of the parents of the depositor and a photographic album with family photos of the depositor. Photos showing various generations of the family during family activities, outings, and portraits.

A collection of photos by Mr. Joseph Ellul who started taking photos in or around 1929 and continued his photographic activity up to the early 1970s. Apart from the photographic evidence of the landscape, countryside and buildings, he developed an art of taking portraits of individuals, including family members, neighbors, friends, colleagues at the Naval Dockyard, and those who requested his professional services.

Digitisation and cataloging complete.

Digitisation complete and cataloging in progress.

2023-070 - The Marich Family Collection

2023-097 - The Emmanuel Mifsud Collection

Messrs. V. Marich and Co. were the oldest manufacturers of hand-made cigarettes as well as cigar and tobacco merchants, exporting tobacco products to several countries. The business was not just a shop but also a smoking divan and a popular rendezvous point for Maltese gentry, naval and military senior officers. The collection consists of photographic prints, glass plates and paper documents.

Deposit of audio files from Mr. Joseph Mifsud containing traditional folk music (għana) by his late father, għannejj Emmanuel Mifsud (December 1921 – April 1983).

Digitisation and cataloging complete

Digitisation complete, cataloging in progress.

Exhibition at Spazju Kreattiv highlighting the 7 short films created under the cap of the European Digital Treasure project.

The year also brought many opportunities for collaborations with other stakeholders. One such collaboration is the Memorandum of Understanding between the National Archives of Malta and the Public Broadcasting Services Ltd. The MoU agrees that both parties will work together on beneficial services between the two entities. Such services include conservation, cataloging, digitisation, archival procedures, and other collaborative work which is deemed beneficial for both parties. In addition, NAVI contributed to academic outreach by participating in a lecture at the University of Malta for the Library Information and Archive Sciences program with a lecture on electronic records management and audiovisual archiving, reflecting the archives’ commitment to advancing knowledge in these critical areas.

NAVI also demonstrated the influence of exhibitions as platforms for outreach by hosting two exhibitions throughout the year. One exhibition took place between March and May 2024 at Spazju Kreattiv, titled ‘European Digital Treasures’, featuring seven short films produced as part of the European Digital

Treasures project, displaying innovative digital archiving methods with the aid of filmography.

Another exhibition, titled ‘Wirja dwar il-fotoġurnalista Charlie Fava (1917-2009)’, curated by Dr Steve Borg, sees the life and career of photo-journalist Karmenu (Charlie) Fava. The exhibition covers fifty years of photography and represents the photographer’s time in Egypt, Maltese sport and Maltese traditions and heritage. This exhibition, which opened its doors in November 2024, remained open till the beginning of January 2025 and took place at the Banca Giuratale in Mdina.

NAVI took part in continuous professional development with training by Artefactual Systems Inc on AtoM, an open-source software used by the National Archives of Malta, ensuring that our archival staff is well-equipped with the latest knowledge on open-source web-based archival descriptive software. Further to this, a maintenance and support agreement with Artefactual has been signed and the necessary training has commenced. Once training was provided and a way forward was set, NAVI started to

Stills from one of The Edwin Galea (Galea's Art Studio) Collection digitized film reels. Accession 2024-008. These cards served as intro titles and credits for the footage created by Edwin Galea.

successfully upload accessions onto AtoM which widens their accessibility and usability. This year, the Archives Process Unit and the

National Audiovisual Institute also put focus on creating and maintaining Authority Record files which are also made available on AtoM.

The below list highlights accessions successfully uploaded to AtoM between September and December 2024:

Accession number and title:

2024-058 - The Lochhead Family Collection

Upload date: AtoM link:

PHO - 12/09/2024

DOC - 16/09/2024

2024-075 - The Loraine Mercieca Collection 16/09/2024

2023-061 + 2024-074 - The Jacqueline Formosa Collection

PHO - 18/09/2024

EPH - 19/09/2024

2024-072 - Dr Paul Galea Collection 19/09/2024

2024-055 - The Ġanni Micallef Collection 19/09/2024

2024-041 - The Harold Frederick Rodgers Photo Album 20/09/2024

2024-034 - The Karmenu Gruppetta Collection 26/09/2024

2024-031 - The Alfred Camilleri Collection 3/10/2024

2023-081 - The Cachia Family Collection 17/10/2024

2023-070 - The Marich Family Collection 10/12/2024

Throughout 2024, NAVI took part in a number of outreach initiatives such as tours, interviews, etc, which helps give us a platform to represent our institution and the ongoing work and dedication. NAVI was part of a number of generic visits by several stakeholders such as representatives from The Huntley Film Archive from the United Kingdom, a visit by OPM Director (People Resourcing and Compliance), People & Standards Division, Mr. Leo Bonnici, a visit by the President of Malta, George Vella which also included viewing of the Giuseppe Galea exhibition, a visit by the Public Broadcasting Authority Archives Manager, Mr. Antoine Faurè and a number of students who were undergoing a student placement with the institution and, finally, a visit by Dr Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament. In April, the National Archives of Malta hosted its yearly open day where

https://arkivji.org.mt/the-lochheadfamily-collection

https://arkivji.org.mt/the-lorainemercieca-collection

https://arkivji.org.mt/thejacqueline-formosa-collection-good

https://arkivji.org.mt/the-dr-paulgalea-collection

https://arkivji.org.mt/the-gannimicallef-collection

https://arkivji.org.mt/the-haroldfrederick-rodgers-photo-albumgood

https://arkivji.org.mt/the-karmenugruppetta-collection

https://arkivji.org.mt/the-alfredcamilleri-collection

https://arkivji.org.mt/the-cachiafamily-collection

https://arkivji.org.mt/the-marichfamily-collection

NAVI displayed various audiovisual material, photographic collections and discussed the audiovisual archival procedures with interested attendees. NAVI also participated in an interview on the television programme ‘Kitbiet Minsija’ which aired in February 2024 and discussed the audiovisual archival procedures. The Times of Malta also interviewed NAVI regarding The Harold Frederick Rodgers Photo Album and NAVI was also interviewed on the radio programme titled ‘Mill-Arkivji’, with Mr. Noel D’Anastas which was aired in April 2024. The day-today running of the institution was discussed whilst also discussing the European Digital Treasures exhibition.

NAVI owes much of its success to the dedication and enthusiasm of a number of students and volunteers who contributed to the day-to-day operations throughout

2024. This involvement is instrumental in progressing our mission to preserve and make accessible our nation’s audiovisual heritage. By working closely with our institution, these students and volunteers gained invaluable insights on the procedures that go into audiovisual archiving and preservation. Their efforts continue to inspire us, and we remain deeply grateful for their dedication and enthusiasm.

List of students and volunteers and their assigned work:

Students:

Name Institution

Jakob Kuhn University of Applied Sciences, Public Administration and Finance in Ludwigsburg

Dates Work assigned

28th October 2024 - 27th January 2025

Volunteers:

Name Dates Work Assigned

Mark Farrugia 2022 - current

Skye Vassallo March 2023 - current

Raisa Zammit August 2023 – September 2024 (started as a student during Jobs Plus work experience scheme and continued as a volunteer)

Automation and preparation of CSV templates for AtoM, Digitisation and inventory of The Times of Malta Photographic Archive.

Metadata on AtoM: 2022 – 034 - The Times of Malta Photographic Archive

Digitisation and inventory: 2022 – 034 - The Times of Malta Photographic Archive

Cataloging:

2020-042 - The Guido Stilon Collection 2023-064 - The Joseph Ellul Collection

Cataloging: 2022 – 034 - The Times of Malta

Photographic Archive

2020-042 - The Guido Stilon Collection 2023-064 - The Joseph Ellul Collection 2024-034 - The Karmenu Gruppetta Collection

Authority Records: 2023-017 - Anthony Hart CollectionLucy Hart 2023-060 - John Cremona private deposit

2023-064 - Joseph Ellul Collection 2024-002 - Records of the 3/11 Regiment RMA (T) Association 2024-034 - The Karmenu Gruppetta Collection 2024-041 - The Harold Frederick Rodgers Photo Album 2024-072 - Dr Paul Galea

Volunteers:

Norbert Gingell November 2023 - current

Danica Abela Ongoing

Digitisation and inventory: 2022 – 034 - The Times of Malta

Photographic Archive

Cataloging:

2024-031 - Alfred Camilleri Collection

The Malta National Archives Staff who are directly working on NAVI projects: Staff:

Name Dates

Marlene Gouder May 2023 - current

Joseph Amodio August 2023 - current

Ruby-Jo Bondin May 2024 - current

Looking back at 2024, the National Audiovisual Institute has visibly made significant developments in preserving, digitizing and making the various repositories accessible. From restoration projects and educational outreach initiatives to community engagement, this year has shown determination and commitment towards

Work Assigned

Cataloging:

2020-042 - The Guido Stilon Collection

2023-054 - The Raymond Bonello Private Deposit

2023-052 - The Giuseppe Galea Collection

2024-153 - The Guido Baldacchino Collection

2024-156 - The Leonard William Brown Collection

Digitisation and inventory: 2022–034 – The Times of Malta Photographic Archive

Digitisation and cataloging:

2022-062 - The Kevin Casha Private Deposit

Cataloging:

2024-041 - The Harold Frederick Rodgers Photo Album

2024-002 - Records of the 3/11 Regiment RMA (T) Association

2023-061 and 2024-074 - The Jacqueline Formosa Collection

2024-055 - The Ġanni Micallef Collection

2024-075 - The Loraine Mercieca Collection

2023-064 - The Joseph Ellul Collection

achieving momentum and embracing new opportunities to advance our legacy. Together, we have ensured that the past and present audiovisual heritage remains relevant and accessible and helps us gain momentum for future opportunities.

Above: Brian Brincat’s mother was prescribed Thalidomide during her pregnancy in 1950s. This medicine led to thousands of children being born with physical impairments across Europe. In 1961 it was withdrawn from Europe however its marketing in Malta remained up to the mid-1960s. Brian shared with MEMORJA his experiences about the impact of this pill on him and his family. (MEM_0179 BB)

Overleaf: Malta Tramways Ltd operated electric tramways in Malta between 1905 and 1929. The Valletta tram terminus stood instead of today’s Tritons fountain and from there the lines reached Ħamrun, Ħal Qormi, ĦażŻebbuġ, Birkirkara, Cospicua, Marsa and Paola. (Maurice Mifsud Bonnici Collection, MEM-0050)

MEMORJA is the oral, sound, and visual archive of the National Archives of Malta (NAM), set up to be the Maltese Islands’ main depositor of public memory. By employing cutting-edge research methodologies along with theoretical and archival approaches, MEMORJA seeks to collect, record, transcribe and preserve individual and shared/community memories, oral history and traditions, knowledge, and experiences. The objective is to make all this material available for research, interpretation, and educational purposes.

Fieldwork had started in 2017 through faceto-face pre-interview meetings – the first of their kind for the NAM – leading to the creation of networks in the community. These new relationships with individuals from different backgrounds allowed members of the public to share their stories with the Project through oral and video interviews and the donation of personal photographs, letters, film reels and other artefacts. Given the opportunity to have their experiences documented for future research, these ‘partners’ are today addressing a lacuna often not found in official documentation and are thus providing more balanced and rounded perspectives on numerous historical themes and subjects.

FIELDWORK

MEMORJA has carried out ethnographic fieldwork, digitising images, documents and letters in conjunction with recording audio and video interviews while getting the latter transcribed. For transcriptions and proofreading, the further assistance and attention of volunteers has been greatly appreciated.

The Malta Thalidomide Affair

Members of the Thalidomide Survivors Association (Malta) (TSA) had attended MEMORJA’s annual oral history course so they could carry out their own fieldwork to capture oral histories centred on the medical scandal that had ravaged Europe – including Malta –throughout the 1950s and early 1960s.

The Thalidomide pill – an abortive drug prescribed to pregnant women – had been recalled from markets by 1961. By the mid1960s, local medical professionals were still prescribing this pill while pharmacies were also selling it over the counter, thus indirectly turning colonial and early post-colonial Malta into an overseas test centre for the drug industry.

The first interview was recorded with Mr Anatole Baldacchino back in December 2023. Last year, Mr Baldacchino and Mr Michael Debattista – respectively – President and Vice President of the TSA – interviewed three individuals who were impacted by this drug during their childhoods in the 1950s and 1960s. Among the subjects that were discussed, the main feature which emerged from these interviews were adulthood in the shadow of disability in a socially and religiously conservative Malta. Further fieldwork is planned to be conducted throughout this year.

Mazzit: Maltese Blood Sausage

These interviews were conducted as part of a larger project by the MAFA-PA (Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights –Public Abattoir) to safeguard and preserve Maltese culinary history. One of these projects was the acquiring of Protected Geographical Information status for Mazzit, a traditional Maltese culinary feature which had risked falling into obscurity due to its production having been banned by the European Union in the 2000s as part of an EU directive. This also meant that younger generations of

Maltese people were unfamiliar with this type of food, and the multiple sources of culinary inspiration entering the Island created a whirlwind of a melting pot which could have hastened Mazzit’s fall into obscurity.

The challenges were exacerbated by the fact that the methods of production were hardly standardised or codified and written down. These were instead passed from one generation to the next within families of producers via oral means, meaning that references to it within archives were few and far between, barring some mentions in the grammatical works of Giovanni De Soldanis and Mikiel Anton Vassalli.

Mazzit is briefly mentioned in De Soldanis’s Damma tal kliem kartaginis mscerred fel fom tal Maltin u Ghaucin, first published in 1750 and Mikiel Anton Vassali’s Ktŷb yl klŷm Mâlti, ‘mfysser byl-Latîn u byt-Taljâ first published in 1796. These mentions however are simply curiosity, providing a definition and in the case of De Soldanis mentions of the Maltese saying ‘Fl-aħħar tal-Mazzita ssib iż-żbiba.’

To gain insight into the social and culinary aspects of the history of mazzit, the use of oral history proved to be paramount for this project. In addition, this approach and the subsequent fieldwork ensures the preservation and continuation of local traditions in the face of potential erasure of all knowledge related to this kind of food and the documentative silence in which this had been enveloped for decades.

Fieldworkers from the Public Abattoir had sat for MEMORJA’s oral history course back in 2022 and deposited 10 oral history interviews. The Public Abattoir’s collaboration with MEMORJA further aids the National Archives in preserving a snapshot of the community’s public memory.

History in Our Hands

Under the guidance of Dr Ben Matthews, Lecturer in Linguistics at the University of Malta, volunteers with knowledge in both Maltese and English sign language had attended MEMORJA’s annual oral history course in 2023. This project was set up with the aim of collecting the recollections of Deaf people and members of the local Sign Language Community as well as their families’. In this case, video interviews were fundamental, as language is not transmitted orally, as in other themes.

With Dr Ben Matthews’ and his tireless team’s insight, it was possible to tap into the Maltese Sign Language community: a community including Deaf and Hearing parents, teachers, athletes, Sign-Language tutors, interpreters and academics who have all played their part. 19 interviews have since been recorded. More are expected to be carried out throughout the year.

Covid-19 Pandemic Memory Project

For this theme, two interviews were carried out with Ms Rosemarie Calleja. During the first interview, Ms Calleja spoke about her experiences as a Senior Media Lecturer at MCAST during the pandemic. She mentioned how the change was immediate, and how she had to adapt in a very short time. Lectures had to be shifted online and timetables had to be adjusted. The end-of-year exam also had adapted in accordance with this new situation. Moreover, Ms Calleja mentioned that there were short periods during this time when MCAST had reopened; during these periods, various measures were being implemented onsite, such as the use of sanitisers and the practice of social distancing in lecture rooms (e.g. use of partitions).

In her second interview, Ms Calleja spoke about her experience of visiting Venice during the pandemic. She described the protective

measures taken at airports and inside the aircraft. Lastly, she gave an account of the places she had visited. She emphasised how she had never seen anything like it; all places were empty and devoid of people and activity. Going abroad during the Covid-19 pandemic was a very surreal experience.

The Malta Bus Archive

This year is the 100th anniversary of the first operations of motorbuses on Gozo. Most of the previous year was spent working on the Gozo 100 project, which falls into two categories: firstly, a book is being written about the bus industry, the vehicles, the operations and a selection number of individuals who were linked to the industry; the second part will consist of a weekend-long event on the sister island to coincide with the launch of the publication.

The first eight months were mostly focused on gathering material about the Gozo bus industry, while also carrying out note-taking exercises with people who used to work in the industry and/or their descendants. Following this, work on the book commenced, with the sorting of thousands of photographs. At the end of the year around 40% had been completed, with a launch date of 17/18 May now in place.

The other part of the anniversary plans involves a weekend-long event on Gozo. Over thirty people from the UK have already confirmed their attendance or hope to be present, with more expected making the event of international importance.

In between Gozo 100, a video interview was recorded with Mellieħa-born Gino Borg explaining and demonstrating the artwork he creates for restored buses. Mr Borg is a top-rate builder of bus models and once the event is out of the way, it is hoped MEMORJA returns to Mellieħa to interview him about

the modelling side of his work. He also kindly created a bespoke piece of art for the Malta Bus Archive as part of the fieldwork process.

Other thematic research groups

Apart from the previous projects, fieldwork was carried out on other research themes.

John Meilak and Doris Venturi were interviewed about their wartime experiences. Both had been born in 1932 and both their families had been forced to flee their homes in the inner harbour area after the first aerial bombardments in June 1940. In their recollections, they orally recreated the scenes which they had seen as young children and the confusion they felt when their young worldview had been shattered. They spoke about moving in with strangers in new parts of the country – areas they had never visited before – medicine and lack thereof, the everpresent pangs of hunger with which most people were burdened, the sense of perpetual fear and life underground during air raids.

Renowned local actor Fabian Scerri De Carlo has been gracing Maltese stage and screens for more than three decades. Programmes in which he had a starring role have been: Ipokriti, Salib it-Toroq, Kristu tal-Kerrejja, F’Baħar Wieħed and Simpatiċi. However, his most famous role has been L-Avukat Gawdenz Bilocca, the comic lawyer who got up to no good. Mr Scerri De Carlo was interviewed about his work in local drama circles, and he further expounded on the differences between stage and screen, comic and dramatic roles, the individuals he acted alongside and how his most famous character continues to impact his life. Along with his interview, Mr Scerri De Carlo also donated digital copies of images, scripts, and Gawdenz Biloccarelated paraphernalia, including the original signed (by the whole cast) briefcase that had been used during filming around two decades ago.

Wied iż-Żurrieq, Sunday 9 March 1947. (Maurice Mifsud Bonnici Collection, MEM-0050)

Professor Henry Frendo was also interviewed for the Project. This was centred on his personal life, various key events and his personal opinions on various topics. Highlights of the interview included but were not limited to his childhood in Floriana – during which he had personally known Oliver Friggieri – his education, his activism in the 1960s – during which he was chairman of the national campaign Djar ghall-Maltin – his stint in journalism, foreign duties with UNHCR, his academic work and his personal views on various aspects.

Other themes on which ethnographic research was conducted are the local archives and library sector, folksinging and pre-2011 public transport.

Outreach

- Memory in Motion: Migration, Social Networking, and Storytelling in the Mediterranean conference – 25-26 January 2024

• MEMORJA was invited to present a paper for the conference ‘Memory In Motion’, conducted by the Mediterranean Institute at the University of Malta. Public Engagement Manager Leonard Callus delivered the presentation titled ‘Migration and the Archive’, which consisted of a snapshot of the Project’s achievements vis-à-vis Mediterranean-centric oral history recollections.

- History In Our Hands launch – 28 November 2024

• MEMORJA joined forces with the Maltese Sign Language Council and the Deaf People Association to launch the research project led by Dr Ben Matthews, from the University of Malta’s Institute of Linguistics and Language Technology. This event signified the introduction of a new community in the National Archives of Malta’s oral history project, wherein their experiences are given a new platform for generations to come.

- Annual oral history course

• The latest oral history course started in October and brings together, students, public sector employees and members of

the public. MEMORJA’s academic advisor, Prof. John Chircop will train the group in oral history methodology, ethnography and transcriptions which will serve them to go into the field and collect their own oral history recollections to be deposited in MEMORJA .

Deposits

Throughout the previous year, emphasis was made on getting up to scratch with accessioning and depositing long-held material and seeing to the paperwork which had accumulated as a result of near-constant fieldwork over the previous years. This was done in conjunction with simultaneous meetings held in the field with prospective donors on new interviews and research themes.

Notwithstanding these challenges – which had been further exacerbated by team/staff shortages – the Project has managed to deposit research themes which had been in its repertoire for years, such as the Second World War and the colonial and post-colonial

Malta civil service. The Covid-19 Pandemic Memory Project is still active and providing new perspectives on a period which has since passed into history. Other material included fieldwork which had been undertaken by both MEMORJA and volunteer fieldworkers, the latter of whom had deposited research themes they themselves had chosen and which now form part of the Project’s holdings. These include memories from the Three Cities, food culture, stone quarrying in the immediate post-war era, professional work experiences at Santo Spirito Hospital during the 1960s and the Lazzaretto Quarantine Hospital in the 1970s and farming experiences in the Mellieħa area.

As can be seen from the following table, the material deposited consists of audio and video interviews and digital images (photographs, documents, letters, manuscripts). Included are also fieldwork notes, films and transcripts. These items had been sorted, digitised, renamed and accessioned (registered) between January and December of last year. The thousands of items now available to researchers amount to a total digital size of more than 450 GB

Baldacchino

& Toni Bajada

Brockdorff

Doris Venturi was born in Senglea. In June 1940 her family left home and sought refuge in Rabat, a village she had never visited before. Doris shared with MEMORJA her experiences, the uneasiness of living in other people’s homes, the lack of hygiene, illness, uncertainty, and the fear ushered by war. (MEM_0188 DV)

Interviewee Research theme(s)

Kimberly Gwen Buhagiar & Chloe Cachia

Pandemic Memory Project

Gejtu Busuttil Mazzit: Maltese blood sausage

Matthew Buttigieg Traditional Maltese cuisine, food preparation and cooking

Rosemarie Calleja

Callus

Callus

Joseph Camilleri Experiencing War

2022

2019

2024

2023

2017

Joseph Camilleri ‘IlBaqrambun’

from Ix-Xquq and Qammieħ Cliffs

2019

Raymond Caruana Malta Buses and Transport

Joan Cassar The Malta Thalidomide Affair

Lawrence Cefai Experiencing War; Conscription; St Paul’s Grotto

2024

2024

video

11 digital files of images; 77 digital files of ephemera; paraphernalia regarding the commemoration of the festivities of St Paul’s shipwreck in Rabat (Malta)

Interviewee Research

Louis Cilia

Joseph Cini ‘Il-Bajjadon’

Ġużi Cutajar ‘Ta’ Żumini’

Michael Cutajar ‘IżŻinnu’

Ċensu

Debono ‘IlKejli’

Ix-Xquq and Qammieħ Cliffs

and

Cliffs

Farrugia ‘TalMarokk’

and Qammieħ Cliffs

Interviewee Research

Maria

Joseph Gauci ‘Ta’ Marintun’

Norbert Gingell

Carmen Grech

Ġanni Grima ‘Il-Ħanx’

Interviewee

Carmel Micallef ‘Ta’ Kullatu’

Micallef

Micallef

Psaila

John

Naudi

Fabian Scerri De Carlo

Sciberras

Spiteri

Interviewee

Patrick Spiteri & Denis Micallef

Fredu Vella ‘Iċ-Ċalapus’

John Vella ‘IsSigarett’

George

Xuereb

Cliffs

10 CONSERVATION LAB

OUR TEAM

Sofia Kyriaki, a junior conservator, started her employment with the National Archives in May 2024. This addition of a Junior Conservator was a great help to our team, since this allowed us to keep up with every day ‘routine’ projects arriving at the laboratory.

Two months later, Andrea Cachia and Abigail Xerri, two students following the bachelor’s degree in Book and Paper conservation at MCAST, joined our team as apprentices. This apprenticeship will last until July 2026 and is an essential component of their three-year course. During their first year of apprenticeship, the students have helped with the preservation of various documents, by making different types of housing (boxes and other enclosures for these items).

PROJECTS

Internal projects

Short-term projects remained the focus of the conservation laboratory’ activities throughout 2024 where priority is given to documents that have been requested by researchers. This year, we received 118 new requests for conservation projects. Of these new projects, 96 were completed, while another four projects were completed from requests made in previous years.

These numbers indicate an increase in projects which require interventive conservation measures, where 77 projects were intervened upon. In fact, this year, a large number of documents required interventive conservation treatment. Whilst it is good to emphasise on preventive conservation (preservation housing), it is also very important that interventive treatments are undertaken when necessary, ensuring the availability of these documents to researchers when requested. 92 projects required some form of conservation housing (made-to-measure boxes/folders/polyester pockets). Around half of the projects worked on this year (51) needed both an interventive treatment and conservation housing, whilst 25 only needed

an interventive treatment and another 38 only needed preservation measures.

Looking at 2024 projects, one may notice that 35 of them were passport applications, reflecting the researchers’ demands.

The following are a few of the projects which were worked upon this year:

• The Giuseppe Galea collection (accession no. 2023-052) which includes a total of 109 original designs by the sculptor/designer, required proper housing for the many drawings donated. This consisted of 2 conservation made-to-measure boxes, one for the 57 drawings which were to remain in the Malta collection at Head office and another one for the 52 drawings which would be deposited at the Gozo archive. One of the drawings, which is part of the Gozo collection, also needed extensive treatment since it was in a very poor state.

• Malta Bus Route map (donation). This print needed an interventive conservation treatment.

• Harold Frederick Rogers album (accession no. 2024-041). This photographic album needed both an interventive conservation treatment and preservation housing.

• 16 maps from the National Archives collection had to undergo an interventive treatment in order to go on exhibition for the Malta Map Society’s annual conference last October.

• The Malta Constitution document of 1921, which was needed for an external exhibition, needed to undergo an interventive treatment as well as be mounted on a conservation mount.

• The Gerada collection of caricatures (accession no. 2024-050) which consists of 882 drawings, needed

to be placed in polyester folders and housed in made-to-measure conservation boxes.

• The conservators were also helping out Ancestry with their digitisation project of the Ġuliana Letard Ciantar by doing remedial treatments on any of the documents which could not be handled or digitised properly due to their deteriorated state.

The Audiovisual Room

Two dehumidifiers and air purifiers were installed at the audiovisual room to improve the atmospheric conditions. This intervention has ensured that relative humidity in the room is now, not only in the ideal range, but also stable with very minimal fluctuations occurring. Fluctuations in temperature and Relative Humidity are one of the major causes of deterioration and should be avoided. The environment in the Audiovisual room is being constantly monitored with accurate data loggers, also purchased recently for this purpose. Work in this room is still underway, and a new air conditioning system will be installed.

External projects

The Identità Malta project, which comprised of 32 volumes that were damaged due to water ingress in 2023, was completed in December 2024. The volumes were divided into 3 batches, the first batch was completed in March 2024; the second batch was completed in June 2024 and the third and final batch was completed in December 2024. The damage was not only due to the water damage sustained, but also due to the overuse of the volumes throughout the years and therefore had various other problems with them, including detachment of sections, fragmented pages, some of which were repaired with pressure-sensitive tape in the past. These were intervened upon and repaired in order to avoid any eventual loss of information.

Another external project, which was finished in March 2024, was the opening of the Secret wills which were entrusted to us by the Courts of Justice in 2023. The secret wills project

comprised of 22 bundles, totalling 232 wills altogether. These wills were opened without damaging them. Some of these needed some form of intervention, in most cases, due to the damage caused to the paper as a result of ink corrosion and therefore they needed to be consolidated to avoid loss of data. A few of the ribbons/cords were also consolidated in place prior to opening, so as to keep as much of the ribbon/cord pattern as possible.

These were the two major projects which the Conservation Laboratory worked on this year. These projects serve as a good example of the support given by the National Archives to other government departments and are useful in showing the importance of preservation and guiding other departments on how to preserve their collection.

• Exhibitions by other entities which were supported by the conservation laboratory this year: Malta Map Society; Labour Headquarters; Heritage Malta; Manoel Theatre.

• Other smaller external projects included: a large drawing by Abram Gatt (Wignacourt museum); Small workshop for students visiting the career convention at the University of Malta; Workshop for staff members of the Malta Planning Authority.

THE PREMISES

The conservation laboratory underwent a few changes in the past year in order to utilise the small space available in a more efficient way. New materials and equipment were acquired in order to provide better housing options for the projects undertaken. A Polyester sealing machine was acquired in January 2024, and it has been used extensively for the housing of documents. This equipment helped reduce the time taken to make made-tomeasure polyester sleeves, especially used for the housing of photographs on passport applications.

The laboratory is being refurbished slowly to improve and increase the working space available for both the conservators and students. A raft has been constructed in the laboratory in order to have a better space to store conservation materials. This will also help to store a larger quantity of material and therefore will help us reduce the number of smaller orders made throughout the year. Also, new laboratory furniture, consisting of metal cabinets and drawers, were acquired this year in order to store documents properly in one place rather than in various places around the laboratory, as well as to store conservation material.

Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for warranted conservators

The conservation team has attended a number of lectures, workshops and a conference this year. All of which will contribute to the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) hours which warranted conservator-restorers are required to follow by law.

STUDENTS

The Conservation Laboratory hosted many interns during 2024. These were a Korean student, Jiwon Jeong, following an MSc in Conservation at Cardiff University, who spent three weeks working with us and a Taiwanese student, Grace Kang, following an MA specialising in Asian paintings and Paper Conservation at the Tainan National University, who spent two months with us.

Throughout the year, various study programmes were also supported through lectures, job shadowing and other visits to the conservation laboratory. These consisted of University students following a diploma of Archival and Cultural Appreciation of Ecclesiastical Patrimony; Bachelors of Knowledge and Information Management (Honours) and History of Art students. As well as MCAST students following the Cultural Heritage Skills diploma and those following the Bachelors in Conservation.

Before and after conservation.

During this year we continued with our active participation in International activities which help to build the profile of our institution abroad, training our personnel and also feed into the projects with our expertise. This report is just a summary of the extensive work that went into this area.

Kevin Buhagiar from our IT unit attended the Strategic Digital Infrastructures Expert Session held in Ghent (Belgium) on 7 February 2024 and discussed the topic ‘Empowering the Cultural and Creative Sectors in DataDriven Audience Development’. Hosted by the Belgian Presidency of the EU, this conference explored the digital transformation of cultural and creative sectors, focusing on policy, audience engagement, and cross-sector collaboration.

Key discussions included Flanders’ digital transformation initiatives, EU “Digital Decade” goals, and funding opportunities for cultural organizations. Experts highlighted ethical data collection, AI-driven audience engagement, and innovative digital business models. Showcases from Ghent demonstrated successful engagement strategies.

Collaboration was a central theme, with sessions on open data sharing, the Ghent Manifesto, and strategic digital infrastructures. A pre-conference session by the Dutch Knowledge Institute for Culture and Digital Transformation examined shared infrastructure scenarios, stressing the need for resource consolidation to avoid fragmentation.

Notably, Marion Carré presented Ask Mona, an AI-driven startup enhancing cultural accessibility. Its adaptable AI also supports archives, such as SNCF’s digital initiatives.

For Malta, preventing reliance on commercial infrastructures and investing in scalable digital solutions is crucial. Coordination between the Ministry’s CIO and MITA is needed to develop the necessary storage infrastructure.

Noel D’Anastas participated in the online Country Managers Meeting of Archives Portal Europe (APE), held on April 17 and 18, 2024. The event took place at the Swiss Federal Archives in Berne and focused on several key topics. These included APE’s Strategic Direction for 2024–2026, strategies for addressing the needs of its user base, expanding its network of content creators, and improving the quality and comprehensiveness of its metadata.

European Archives Group and European Board of National Archivists. We participated in the 34th meeting of the European Archives Group (EAG) and the 47th meeting of the European Board of National Archivists (EBNA) held in Brussels between 29 and 31 May 2024. The National Archives of Malta was represented during these meetings by Leonard Callus and John Cremona.

The discussion of the EAG concerned the work of standardization of electronic archiving at European Level. A new eIDAS revised regulation which is already in force, provides for the provision of qualified electronic archiving services at EU level. National Archives have been involved early in the process for defining the technical specifications necessary for the implementation of this regulation. During the same meeting the EAG strategy 2025 – 2030 which addresses the most current issues archives face today was adopted.

The EBNA meeting discussed the topic Archives & Identity. Obstacles and solutions for accessibility. Various case studies were presented by archivists from different countries. This was followed by a workshop in which groups discussed different scenarios related to accessibility of sensitive and personal information.

The ICARUS convention was held in Novi Sad, Serbia, between the 4 and 8 June 2024 and was attended by Dr Charles J. Farrugia. The 32nd ICARUS Convention discussed the theme ‘Archives and Research: Between the Analogue and the Digital.’ During this event national archivist Dr Charles J. Farrugia delivered a key-note address and also a paper entitled ‘Constant Adaptation in Archival Environments: Transitioning from the Analogue to the Digital Archive’. During this presentation he mapped the development in archives during the last three decades and how ICT changed the way we present our finding aids, deliver services to the public and interact with our stakeholders.

Digital and Smart Governance for Public Sector Accounting, Auditing, and Accountability workshop held in Udine (Italy) between 11 and 15 June and organised in Udine by the Comparative International Governmental Accounting Research Network (CIGAR). Our Finance Manager Michael Zammit Munro attended the workshop that included an interesting presentation by William C. Rivenbark, Professor of Public

Administration and Government, University of North Carolina. There were also discussions on information systems for public financial and management accounting, financial non-financial and integrated reporting risk management and auditing and process simplification vs. administrative burden: impacts on public managers, accountants, auditors, consultants, and/or citizens.

In view of a joint project between the Biblioteca Apostolica at the Vatican and the National Archives of Malta and other institutions, the National Archivist Dr Charles Farrugia held meetings with the Prefect of the Biblioteca Appostolica don Mauro Mantovani

and Dott.ssa Isabella Aurora, Head of the Manuscripts Section of the same institution. The meetings held at the Vatican between the 18 and 20 July 2024 made it possible for two Maltese interns to get hands-on experience working at the Archivio Barberini.

The Familysearch Symposium was held in Potsdam (Germany) betwen 8 and 11 September 2024. Attended by Dr Charles Farrugia and Mr Mark Gauci this convention brought together more than 100 European

archivists and discussed the topics “Artificial Intelligence for archives”, “Quality records for quality research”, “Creative strategies for records access”, and “Digital records transformation and preservation”.

The National Archives has participated for the third consecutive year in the Tbilisi (Georgia) International Archival Film Festival held 1720 September 2024. Dr Charles J. Farrugia attended. This event is organised by the National Archives of Georgia. During the film festival archival films from Estonia, Germany, USA, Portugal, Bulgaria, Czech Republic,

Croatia, Catalonia, Peru, Moldova, Poland and Georgia were screened. National Archivist Dr Charles J. Farrugia was also panel speaker at a discussion about the role of films in archival challenges, such as decolonization. It was an opportunity to premier the restored film Giuseppi which was restored through the initiative of Veronica Galea.

The AERI (Archival Education Research Institute) 2024 was held at the Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (SUAD) between 5 and 11 October 2024. This is an organisation bringing together academics who teach archival theory and practice throughout the world. In his intervention Dr Charles J. Farrugia who attended this event presented a paper entitled ‘Investigating Influences and National Identities Through Archive Curricula in the Mediterranean: The Maltese Case Study’. He discussed how the introduction of Archives

Studies at the University of Malta opened up new opportunities for the Maltese archives sectors and for Local institutions to start employing the right qualified personnel in the form of Records Managers and Archivists.

During the same event Dr Farrugia was greeted by the Director General of the Archives and the National Library, H.E. Abdullah Majid AlAli and discussions were held on issues of mutual collaboration.

Dr Charles J. Farrugia participated in the meetings of the European Archives Group and European Board of National Archivists held in Budapest between the 14 and 16 October 2024. The events coinciding with the Presidency by Hungary of the EU discussed the theme ‘Reconstructing Europe’s Past: The power of archives in the age of digital innovation’. Amongst the sub-topics European archivists had the opportunity to discuss how AI enhances managing vast digital infrastructures, how digital technology fosters greater cooperation and accessibility,

and how this can transform our understanding and interaction with historical records.

Other topics included handwriting recognition, the first Retrieval Augmented Generation initiatives in archival context, and chatbots which provide user-friendly natural language access to archival information with the help of Large Language Models.

The stay in Budapest also made it possible to participate at the AGM of the Archives Portal Europe Foundation.

Between 4 and 5 November 2024 the DLM Forum washeld in Budapest (Hungary). Kevin Buhagiar particpated in this meeting that celebrated 30 Years of Digital Information Management, focusing on AI’s impact on digital archiving. Experts from across Europe discussed technological advancements, governance strategies, and accessibility improvements.

Key sessions explored Hungary’s digital archiving evolution, AI-driven record appraisal, and the E-ARK initiative’s role in standardizing archival practices. Presenters from Lithuania, Latvia, and the Czech Republic shared national strategies for sustainable digital preservation. AI applications, including large language models and enhanced OCR for historical documents, were also highlighted.

Workshops covered AI-generated record authenticity and geospatial data archiving. A discussion with Gregor Završnik explored a potential pilot project for Malta using e-ARK’s geodata preservation standards. Another session on Ybbs in 4 Dimensions showcased immersive historical archives, offering ideas for Malta.

Key takeaways emphasized AI’s growing role in archiving, the need for international collaboration on standards, user-focused design, and balancing innovation with longterm preservation. The event reinforced the importance of ethical AI use and strategic digital governance in shaping the future of archiving.

The kick off meeting of the SAGA Project was held in Madrid (Spain) between the 18 and 19 November 2024 and was attended by Leonard Callus, member on the project’s steering

committee. During the meeting the five work packages making up the project were reviewed and the immediate and mediumterm tasks were planned and assigned.

The 34th Conference “International Archival Days” and the 18th International School of Archival Sciences were held in Maribor (Slovenia) between 25 and 30 November 2024. During these events, National Archivist Dr Charles J. Farrugia discussed the challenges Malta had to adapt to the EU membership environment in the archives sector. He also discussed in a separate presentation the challenges ICT have brought to the national archives sector.

A third event held during these days was the OPENARCH (Open Archives for Social Science Research) held at the Alma Mater Europaea, University of Maribor which was also addressed by Dr Farrugia. He shared the experience of the Maltese archives sector during these last 20 years as members of the EU and also explained the targets of current EU-backed projects such as SAGA.

Another Country Managers Meeting of Archives Portal Europe (APE), was held online on 25-26 November 2024. During this session attended by Noel D’Anastas, Petr Woltjer and Kerstin Arnold delivered the presentation “Persons in Contexts –Discussion on Working with Genealogical Records and Name Search in APE.” The presentation explored methods for enhancing the management of genealogical records and improving name search functionalities within the platform.

Additionally, the meeting featured updates on data quality, including apeEAD usage statistics, and progress reports on various projects including Digitisation & Archives (RURALIS) that focuses on digitizing rural archival collections, Archives & Citizens Accessibility (Creative aimed at improving accessibility for the general public and ECHOES – Data Space for Cultural Heritage highlighting efforts to develop a data space for cultural heritage.

SUSTAINABLE ARCHIVES AND GREENER APPROACHES (SAGA)

Sustainable Archives and Greener Approaches (SAGA) is a project, launched in 2024 and cofinanced by the European Union through the Creative Europe Programme, that seeks to address some pressing challenges faced by archival institutions, including the impacts of climate change, natural disasters, and human-made risks. By promoting sustainable practices, disaster risk reduction, and resilience, SAGA aims to safeguard Europe’s rich documentary heritage while fostering innovation and transnational collaboration.

Project Vision

The overarching vision of SAGA is to transform the way archival institutions approach sustainability and risk management, ensuring the preservation of archival heritage for future generations. This vision is realized through the development of innovative strategies, the adoption of green technologies, and comprehensive capacity-building initiatives.

SAGA aims at preparing, improving and testing archival institutions with regard to resilience and recovery against disasters and climate change, developing pilot solutions and joint recommendations for the protection and management of documentary heritage, and fostering the adoption of more sustainable practices.

Key Objectives

1. Disaster Risk Management: Developing proactive strategies to prevent, mitigate, and respond to risks that threaten archival heritage.

2. Sustainability: Introducing energy-efficient technologies, green infrastructure, and eco-friendly practices to reduce the environmental footprint of archival operations.

3. Capacity Building: Providing training and resources to archival professionals, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to implement sustainable and resilient practices effectively.

4. Collaboration: Strengthening networks among archival institutions, policymakers, and cultural organizations to promote best practices and shared learning.

The SAGA project adopts an approach based on transnational cooperation, bringing together a diverse range of entities from Malta, Spain, Hungary, Portugal, Ireland, and Slovakia. This collaborative effort is designed to leverage the unique expertise and perspectives of each partner to address the challenges of sustainability, risk management, and resilience in the archival sector. By fostering a collective commitment to innovation and sustainability, the project aims to create a lasting impact across Europe.

SAGA will engage with stakeholders at multiple levels, leveraging their expertise and perspectives to achieve measurable and lasting impacts. The project’s partnership includes leading archival institutions, academic organizations, and sustainability experts, ensuring a comprehensive approach to addressing its objectives.

The project’s work plan is structured into five work packages that comprehensively address the project’s objectives. Work Package 1 focuses on project management and monitoring to ensure smooth coordination and high-quality deliverables. Work Package 2 addresses risk prevention and disaster risk management by developing innovative strategies to mitigate climate and human-

induced risks while increasing institutional resilience. Work Package 3 concentrates on reducing the environmental impact of archives by promoting sustainable practices aligned with the European Green Deal. Work Package 4 is dedicated to capacity building and training, enhancing the skills of professionals in risk management and sustainability, and raising public awareness. Finally, Work Package 5 centres on communication and dissemination, aiming to increase the visibility of the project and foster the participation of key stakeholders. Together, these work packages create a cohesive framework to achieve SAGA’s overarching goals of resilience, sustainability, and collaboration in the archival sector.

Partner Name

Type of Entity

National Archives of Malta Archival Institution

Spanish National Archives

Archival Institution

National Archives of HungaryArchival Institution

National Archives of PortugalArchival Institution

Historical Archives of the European Union Archival Institution

Munster Technological University (MTU)

Desarrollo de Estrategias Exteriores (DEX)

Academic and Research Institution

Socioeconomic Research Agency

Institute of Molecular BiologyScientific Research InstitutionSlovakia

Foundation for Landscape Protection (FOK) Environmental and Technical Research Entity

Work Package

WP1: Project Management and Monitoring

Specific Objectives Content

Ensure smooth project management and coordination of all related activities.

Monitor progress and ensure the quality of deliverables.

WP2: Risk Prevention and Disaster Risk Management

Develop innovative strategies to prevent climate and humaninduced risks in archival institutions.

Increase institutional resilience.

WP3: Archives GreeningReduce the environmental impact of archives and promote sustainable practices aligned with the European Green Deal.

- Establishment of management tools and partnership agreement.

- Continuous monitoring through financial and activity reports.

- Organization of regular steering committee meetings.

- Development of a Risk Management Plan.

- Risk assessment at 5 pilot sites.

- Preparation of a “State of the Arts” report.

- Design and testing of action plans and risk management policies.

- Sharing of best practice guidelines with European partners.

- Diagnosis of energy consumption and waste management in archival institutions.

- Creation of an environmental self-assessment tool.

- Development of a sustainability strategy for archives.

- Pilot implementation of ecofriendly merchandising using recycled and sustainable materials.

WP4: Capacity Building and Training

WP5: Communication and Dissemination

Enhance the skills of professionals in risk management and sustainability.

Raise public awareness on these topics.

Increase the visibility of the project and foster the participation of key stakeholders.

- Organization of hybrid workshops and multilingual digital courses on risk management and sustainable practices.

- Development of accessible educational materials for a wide audience.

- Creation of a communication plan and a visual brand identity.

- Development of audiovisual content and communication campaigns.

- Organization of hybrid exhibitions and public events to disseminate project outcomes.

12

The Corporate Services Management Unit is a key enabler in the delivery of the National Archives’ strategic goals. Its priority is to ensure that the needs of all the entity’s stakeholders are met, by focusing on the delivery of quality services, innovation, and capabilities development, in line with the challenges that the services request, together with the general upkeep and improvement of the old and historic facilities we operate from. In 2024, the Unit continued to build on the work of previous years and sought to improve the services provided by the National Archives, by transforming the way services are delivered through teamwork, shared vision, and commitment.

The main duties and responsibilities of this Unit are:

• The administration and human resources development.

HR-related administration such as leave, staff records, and roster planning are managed by this Unit. Further to the administrative tasks, recruitment of new employees and staff development are the responsibility of the Corporate Management Unit. The Unit also deals with the drafting, monitoring and execution of policies related to HR and administration. It is also entrusted with the collating of reports and statistical data and the coordination of Parliamentary Questions’ replies. The administration of the Conservation Laboratory, the Maintenance and Cleaning Units and the reception services fall directly under this Unit.

• Procurement.

Another function of this Unit is procurement. Tender procedures are undertaken by this Unit in conjunction with the Finance Dept. Purchases involving smaller budget are done through calls for quotations and the Unit has the task of ascertaining that the best quality is being obtained at the cheapest possible price.

• Works and Maintenance of Buildings.

The administration of all four premises in Malta namely those of the Head Office at Santo Spirito, Rabat, the Banca Giuratale at Mdina, the Ospizio in Floriana and another

repository in Ħal Far; and two in the central archives in Victoria and a depository in Għarb Gozo. These are all run by the Entity and this Unit is responsible for their, structural and assets’ monitoring and maintenance, pest control and further logistics.

ADMINISTRATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

Recruitment and movements

The National Archives of Malta (NAM) currently employs 48 full-time employees: 30 males (62%) and 18 females (38%). During 2024 the Entity also hosted 17 students who were trained to carry out various tasks within different NAM Units.

Regarding recruitment, this was another challenging year. All recruitment procedures were successfully carried out to replace the retirements and resignations by the first quarter of 2024. During the first months of 2024 one Archives Assistant, one Assistant Conservator and one Senior Executive Officer for the newly set up IT Unit were engaged. One Palaeographer on loan to the Notarial Archives Foundation rejoined the National Archives. The new IT Manager for the National Archives commenced his appointment on the 1st of January 2024.

One Assistant Conservator obtained the Conservator’s warrant and was promoted to Conservator in line with the current Collective Agreement provisions. One of the two RSSL employees serving within the Maintenance Section at the Rabat Head Office was transferred to the Gozo Archive to carry out works needed at the Victoria main office and at the Għarb repositories.

The number of regular active volunteers during 2024, was that of nineteen. These were engaged across various existing NAM sections.

Staff training

Various training programmes continued being offered to employees. This varied from in-house training, information sessions, continuous professional development to the conservators and other members of the staff, and team building activities through collective tasks frequently carried out jointly with our group of dedicated volunteers.

The National Archives continued to support staff who wish to follow training in the different forms such as courses, seminars, webinars, conferences, lectures etc. The areas varied from courses related to teamwork and multidisciplinary tasks, documenting collections using digital tools and lectures focusing on the cultural heritage legislation. Other specialised courses dealt with themes such as preventive conservation and knowledge and skills needed in tackling photographic degradation.

All staff and their families were invited for the annual outing which included a visit to the Grandmaster’s Palace in Valletta on Sunday 25th February afternoon, within the framework of the close collaboration that exists with Heritage Malta. This annual event served as an engaging moment, where staff were guided through this successful and massive project, for which they had collaborated and contributed, together with architects and curators of HM, through its early preparatory research stage.

Work placements

This year, through the Malta College for Arts, Science and Technology, students

following the courses of IT and Conservation were offered placements to help in the Conservation Laboratory and the IT Unit. Four students benefitted from this scheme. In collaboration with other institutions, we offered internships to seventeen students in different areas. The Unit supplied registration and logistical support for these temporary engagements.

WORKS AND MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS

Refurbishment of the covered veranda of Santo Spirito was done by the maintenance Unit, which carried out extensive work of redecorating and repainting this architectural gem of the historic building. The works were also extended to the adjoining main staircase. The roof covering this staircase was stripped off the old and damaged waterproof membrane and replaced by liquid membrane waterproof cover. The same procedure was also applied to two other large roof areas overlooking the internal yard. A room on the first level was identified to host the new IT Server. It was cleared of all its unused and unserviceable material; a new electrical system was installed and a complete refurbishment including redecoration was carried out inhouse. The room was supplied with a new fire alarm system and AC Unit. Lack of space in all NAM premises leaves the Entity with no other choice than utilising all possible corners and available space. For such reasons two small areas within Santo Spirito were turned into two secure storage spaces for use by the IT and administration Units.

In March the Unit assisted in the setting up of the Mater exhibition which was held in the Chapel Hall. The Unit was also responsible for the organisation of logistics for the annual NAM Open Day held at Santo Spirito in April. The event was a huge success and all members of the staff, including the Gozo Archive and the Court and Tribunals Archive employees joined forces at Santo Spirito Head Office to help engage all visitors into

the archives’ world. The overall feedback received from the public was overwhelming.

At the Gozo Archive premises, the maintenance Unit took the task of helping in the meticulous tidying of shelves carrying document archival boxes and registers. The Unit also completed refurbishment works at the Gozo Għarb Depository where new apertures were installed, and other wooden ones were restored.

Structural works for this year also included the strengthening and replacement of a door opening and its beam holding two floors. The damaged was rendering one of the main yard rooms dangerous and unfunctional. The room was cleared from debris and other neglected and unserviceable objects to serve as a quarantine area for new accessions and documents entering the archives. It is intended for use by conservators in their analysis and assessment before documents are submitted to the depositories. At Santo Spirito too, several new apertures were installed, some of which were needed in replacement to old derelict ones. The seepage of rainwater at various levels was also addressed by the replacement of three floor lengths of rainwater drainpipes leading from various roofs to the internal yard.

The monitoring of pest activity and its control was also conducted regularly throughout this year and more deterrent measures were taken. The yearly inspections and servicing of elevators and fire prevention and firefighting equipment was also carried out as part of the responsibilities of this Unit.

13 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The National Archives of Malta relies heavily on Information Technology systems and infrastructure; these play a critical role in archiving and cataloguing records, as well as supporting essential back-office operations. Our commitment is to leverage advanced technology to ensure the preservation and accessibility of our records, while also enhancing operational efficiency.

2024 has been a year of significant progress and technological transformation. Our ongoing commitment to safeguarding historical records and embracing modern technology is evident in the various initiatives implemented. This is an outline of the works carried out in this area during 2024.

SYSTEM UPGRADES

Access to Memory Software

The National Archives of Malta makes use of AtoM (Access to Memory), a web-based, open-source application for standardsbased archival description and access in a multilingual, multi-repository environment. The system required updates and bug fixes, and the delay in implementing these led to numerous errors.

A comprehensive project plan outlining all migration actions was discussed and agreed upon by all parties. Despite encountering several challenges, primarily due to outdated hardware, immediate actions were taken to address each issue. The migration to the latest version is now complete, providing enhanced stability, functionality, accessibility, and responsiveness for both staff and the public accessing the online portal.

Telephony

The entity’s telephone system was previously reliant on an end-of-life PABX with no room for expansion and malfunctioning ports. A strategic shift was made to virtual telephony services using Microsoft Teams. This move provided all users with direct dialling numbers, allowing calls to be handled directly from their mobile devices or PCs.

Staff were equipped with Microsoft Teams-compatible headsets for improved communication, while the CEO and reception

office received Microsoft Teams-compliant desktop phones.

Intercom and Access Control

Significant efforts have been undertaken to modernize our premises with advanced technology solutions. At head office, a new intercom system has been installed, allowing door access from multiple strategic rooms within the building via two-way communication monitors. For employee convenience, facial recognition access control solutions have been implemented, enabling automatic door opening upon face detection and matching. A similar setup has been installed at the Courts and Tribunals Archives in Mdina. A plan for the premises of the Gozo Archive is under review for future installation.

Infrastructure Upgrades

Our commitment to fostering a technologically advanced environment continued throughout the year. Several outdated tools and equipment were replaced. Notable procurements include a high-performance workstation for the Gozo Archive, equipped with powerful software tools for photo, video, and audio editing, and a high-end monitor for better picture quality during editing processes. The installation of the workstation and monitor is planned for the 1st quarter of 2025.

We also replaced unsupported workstations with modern ones, achieving 92% compliance with Microsoft Windows 11 for assets joined to GOV Domain. Wi-Fi coverage was extended with the installation of several Aruba Wireless

Access Points, enhancing network coverage for employees and customers.

Server upgrades were carried out to stay abreast with the latest technology and security threats. A new network firewall was configured and installed, and backup server modifications were made to improve performance speeds during backup jobs.

Significant investment was made in our network infrastructure due to old and damaged UTP cabling. Collaborations with MITA networks teams resulted in a Bill of Quantity (BOQ) for a holistic network replacement. To mitigate network faults, a new GOV fixed network connection was extended to the first floor through a new fibre backbone, along with the installation and configuration of a new GOV network switch.

Software and Licensing

In line with our responsibility to preserve the collective memory of the Maltese nation, we upgraded our backup software licences to enable Microsoft Cloud backups. All necessary configurations were completed, and backups are now stored within Microsoft Azure Storage services procured through

MITA. This setup marks another phase of our disaster recovery plan.

Collaboration and Personnel

Collaboration with MITA and our suppliers remained enriching for strategic, operational, and financial reasons. Fostering a collaborative environment builds trust and creates a win-win scenario for all parties.

By the end of the 2nd quarter of 2024, the IT unit was further strengthened with the hiring of an experienced Senior Executive, who is adept at handling IT-related tasks assigned by the unit Manager.

The National Archives has collaborated in the ICT Summer Traineeship Scheme 2024, with two students being assigned to the IT unit for a fixed ten-week period. The students have been involved in gathering data on IT assets, updating the internal inventory database, documenting existing network wall ports and access points within the building, and creating plans using Microsoft Visio. Additionally, they provided light IT support and reviewed our main website, offering suggestions for improvement.

GEOSPATIAL DATA ARCHIVING AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF MALTA

PLANNING, CONSIDERATIONS, AND APPROACH

Kevin Buhagiar

As Malta continues to digitize its governmental operations, geospatial data — information with location-based elements — becomes increasingly vital. This data, generated by entities such as the Planning Authority and various ministries, supports crucial decisionmaking in urban planning, environmental protection, infrastructure development, and emergency management. The preservation of geospatial data is essential for ensuring historical accuracy, supporting research, and maintaining national heritage.

The National Archives of Malta must take proactive steps toward geospatial data archiving, leveraging standards like the eArchiving CITS Geospatial for consistency and reliability.

What follows is an outline on why Malta’s national archive should prioritize geospatial data preservation, key considerations, and a proposal for a structured approach towards achieving this goal.

1. Why Archiving Geospatial Data Matters for Malta

Malta’s unique geographic, historical, and environmental landscape makes geospatial data particularly significant. With increasing data from sectors like land use, planning, and

conservation, these datasets collectively form a digital record of Malta’s spatial changes and governance decisions. The value of preserving this data is multifaceted:

· Supporting Governance and Transparency: Archived geospatial data allows for transparency in government decisions, enabling future stakeholders to evaluate planning and environmental impact, zoning changes, and land use over time.

· Research and Historical Value: Geospatial data serves as a digital snapshot of Malta’s development, available to historians, researchers, and policymakers. Archived records contribute to long-term studies on urban sprawl, environmental impact, infrastructure expansion, and demographic shifts.

· Legal and Compliance Needs: As geospatial data is used in legal contexts, ensuring access to accurate historical records can support litigation, land disputes, and regulatory compliance.

· Disaster Management and Recovery: Archived geospatial data can help predict and respond to natural disasters by

analyzing previous disaster impacts, environmental degradation, and urban vulnerabilities, leading to better resilience planning.

By establishing a geospatial archiving framework now, the National Archives of Malta can ensure that future generations have access to accurate and complete datasets, providing continuity and context for Malta’s evolving landscape.

2. Key Considerations for Geospatial Data Archiving

The nature of geospatial data presents specific challenges and considerations for the National Archives of Malta:

a. Data Complexity and Volume

Geospatial data is often large in volume and complex in structure, including layers of information like satellite imagery, topography, infrastructure layouts, and demographic data. Planning for efficient storage, retrieval, and processing of this large-scale data is crucial. The Archives should evaluate storage solutions that can manage significant data loads and allow for scalable growth as data volume increases.

b. Metadata and Standards

Metadata—data that describes other data—is essential in geospatial archiving for ensuring context, accuracy, and usability. Adopting the eArchiving CITS Geospatial standard is critical

for establishing a metadata framework that is interoperable with international systems. This will help Malta’s archives link datasets accurately, standardize records, and integrate with European and global databases.

c. Data Integrity and Authenticity

Ensuring that archived data remains unchanged and verifiable over time is crucial, especially in government archives. Authenticity protocols, checksums, and cryptographic techniques can help verify data integrity during storage, transfer, and access. The Archives must consider technological solutions that uphold data integrity without compromising accessibility.

d. Legal and Ethical Considerations

Geospatial data often includes sensitive information, such as private property boundaries or infrastructure that could affect national security. It’s essential to establish clear guidelines around data access, privacy, and sensitivity. The Archives should work closely with legal experts to ensure that archived data complies with national and EU data protection laws, defining who can access what information.

e. Accessibility and Usability

Geospatial data should be archived in a manner that makes it usable for future researchers, policymakers, and the public. This includes developing a system where users can query and retrieve specific layers,

locations, or timeframes without needing advanced technical expertise. Ensuring that archived data remains usable over time also means planning for regular format migration and adopting flexible data standards that evolve with technology.

3. Approach to Implementing a Geospatial Archiving System

To effectively archive geospatial data, the National Archives of Malta can adopt a structured, phased approach:

Phase 1: Assessment and Stakeholder Engagement

The first step is assessing the current state of geospatial data management within relevant government entities, such as the Planning Authority. Key actions include:

· Data Mapping: Identify what types of geospatial data are available, how they are stored, and what metadata standards are currently used. This will help in determining compatibility with eArchiving CITS standards.

· Stakeholder Collaboration: Engage with stakeholders, including the Planning Authority, Environment and Resources Authority, and Infrastructure Malta, to understand their data creation and management processes. Collaborative workshops can help identify potential challenges, data sharing concerns, and areas of improvement.

Phase 2: Standards Adoption and System Design

Once an assessment is complete, the Archives should focus on adopting a standards-based approach for consistency and interoperability:

· Implementing eArchiving CITS

Geospatial Standards: By aligning with eArchiving standards, the Archives will ensure that Malta’s records are compatible with European and global archives, enabling cross-border data sharing and analysis.

· Metadata Framework Development: Establish a detailed metadata framework aligned with geospatial standards, which

includes information on data source, collection methods, timestamps, and accuracy measures.

· System Design: Design a digital archiving system that can handle spatial data layers, formats, and storage needs. Consider cloud-based (preferably hosted on MITA’s Azure platform) or hybrid storage options to allow for scalability and redundancy.

Phase 3: Data Ingestion and Processing

Once the archiving system is in place, the next step is to ingest existing geospatial datasets from relevant government entities:

· Data Collection and Cleaning: Retrieve geospatial datasets, standardize formats, and clean data to remove duplicates or outdated information. This step might involve reformatting data to fit into the chosen archiving standards.

· Metadata Enrichment: Add standardized metadata to each dataset for easy future retrieval and verification. Where possible, enrich datasets with additional contextual information, such as the purpose of data collection or any specific annotations by the original creators.

Phase 4: Data Security, Access, and Maintenance

Establishing robust data security, access, and maintenance protocols will ensure that the system remains functional, secure, and accessible for years to come:

· Security Measures: Implement strong encryption, access control, and audit trails to prevent unauthorized access and ensure data integrity.

· Access Framework: Define access levels based on data sensitivity and user needs. For example, government officials may have access to sensitive layers, while the public may only view general data.

· Regular Maintenance and Updates: Plan for regular software updates, data format migrations, and system maintenance to ensure long-term functionality and prevent data degradation.

Phase 5: User Training and Capacity Building

A sustainable archiving initiative requires skilled personnel who can manage and utilize the system effectively. The Archives should invest in capacity building by:

· Training Archivists and Technicians: Provide training on geospatial data management, metadata standards, and system operations to ensure that staff can manage and retrieve archived geospatial data.

· Public Awareness: Educate potential users, including researchers, government officials, and students, on accessing and interpreting geospatial records.

Conclusion

Implementing a geospatial archiving system is both a strategic as well as a necessary step. As Malta generates increasing amounts of spatially-referenced data, archiving this information preserves a critical part of Malta’s heritage and history, supporting future planning, governance, and research. By following a phased approach that prioritizes standards adoption, stakeholder engagement, and data accessibility, the National Archives can ensure that Malta’s geospatial records remain a valuable national resource for generations to come.

Kevin Buhagiar has extensive experience in IT management and strategic leadership within both the private and public sectors. For nearly two decades, he served as IT Manager for the National Shipping Company of Malta. Transitioning to public service, he assumed the role of Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs, later serving as CIO for the Ministry of European Affairs from 2013 to 2019. Between 2020 to 2022, he held the position of CIO for the Ministry for Health. Since 2022, Kevin has been working within the Office of the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government. In this role, he provides strategic IT guidance and operational support to both the National Archives of Malta and MICAS (Malta International Contemporary Art Space), focusing on IT strategy development and operational management

The National Archives Council during a meeting with Minister Dr Owen Bonnici.

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES COUNCIL

The National Archives Council is set up in line with Article 14 of the National Archives Act (2005), which stipulates that:

(1) There shall be a National Archives Council, appointed by the Minister, which shall be composed as follows:

(a) a Chairperson;

(b) the Superintendent of Cultural Heritage ex officio or his representative;

(c) the Chairperson of Heritage Malta ex officio or his representative;

(d) the National Librarian ex officio or his representative;

(e) the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister ex officio or his representative;

(f) a person to represent the nongovernmental archives or records centres;

(g) three other persons chosen from amongst persons known to be users of and familiar with archives, records management and information professions, or working in non-governmental organisations dedicated to information and archives, one of whom shall be appointed by the Minister responsible for Gozo.

In line with the National Archives Act, during the year under review, the Council continued to fulfil the functions assigned to it by the Archives Act, mainly:

(a) to promote the National Archives and other record keeping entities;

(b) to ensure and facilitate the collaboration between the different stakeholders with direct or indirect responsibility for the protection and management of the archives sector;

(c) to advise the Minister on the management of archives in Malta;

(d) to draw the attention of the Minister or of any organisation or person responsible for archives to any urgent action that may be considered necessary for the better management of archives and records;

(e) to advise the Minister on any matter arising from the provisions of this Act and on any other matter referred to it by the Minister.

A public lecture about the Comitato Permanente Universitario organised by the Friends of the National Archives. FNAM had purchased a collection of manuscript records of the Comitato Permanente Universitario (CPU) and donated them to the National Archives. This collection includes minutes of meetings, verbali and correspondence of the CPU that was set up as the student union of the University of Malta in 1901 by Arturo Mercieca (later Chief Justice) and dissolved by the British colonial administration in 1935. 1 June 2024.

Council Members

The Chairperson and Members of the Council are the following:

Chairperson

Prof. Raymond Mangion

Members

Dr Joan Abela

Dr Steve Borg

Ms Michelle Buhagiar

Mr Mario Coleiro

Mr John Cremona

Rev. Can. Dr Nicholas Doublet

Mr Kurt Farrugia

Mr Max Farrugia

Ms Judith Frendo Cumbo

Mr Neil Spiteri

Dr Lillian Sciberras

Ms Sarah Brincat is Secretary to the Council.

As in previous years, Dr Charles J. Farrugia, the National Archivist and CEO and Mr John Cremona, Assistant National Archivist for Gozo have attended all Council meetings and have also supported its work by regularly updating the Council on the working of the Institution. The National Archives also provides all logistical support by preparing agendas for meetings, providing the offices for its functioning and also providing secretarial support.

Discussions

Meetings of the Council were held regularly. The dates when the Council convened during 2024 were the following: 18th January, 21st February, 22nd March, 17th April, 29th May, 25th June, 26th July, 18th August, 19th September, 10th October, 28th November, 17th December 2024.

During each meeting the national archivist or his representative updates the council with the work of the institution. Prominent during the year under review were the large amounts of private and public deposits that reached the archives. Private deposits (information about which is provided in another section of this report) are an important component in filling in the jigsaw puzzle of national

memory, which the institution is duty bound to preserve. The fact that so many individuals and families reached out to donate their papers is a clear indication of the trust that the public has in the National Archives. The collaboration of public administration means that the provisions of the law and the hard work of the Records Management Unit within the National Archives are bearing fruit.

Another topic that was discussed in all meetings of the Council was that of inadequate premises. The Council continued with its insistence (through written requests and other methods) that the Government sticks to its electoral promise and build a national archive for Malta. It is sad that the appeals the Council is making has not yet let to tangible progress on this project.

Besides this, the much-needed space vacated in Gozo at ground floor level at Triq il-Vajrinġa is being deprived from the archives notwithstanding the verbal and written promises over the years. The Council will keep insisting on the urgent need of a stateof-the-art national archives building that caters for the challenges of today and the future. Furthermore, the situation in Gozo needs to be resolved as it is risking the future of the national archives in Gozo.

THE FRIENDS OF THE NATIONAL

ARCHIVES

The Friends of the National Archives (FNAM) is a voluntary organisation that is set up to assist the National Archives of Malta in fulfilling its mission and to to enhance public awareness of Malta’s archival heritage and the invaluable work of the National Archives through engaging activities. It has undertaken significant discussions and initiatives to enhance their contribution towards the preservation of the Maltese archival heritage during the year under review.

Photo on the right: The Friends of the National Archives’ Committee during a meeting with the President of the Republic, H.E. Myriam Spiteri Debono, 12 June 2024.

The Friends of the National Archives’ Committee, 2024

During 2024, the Executive Committee has been composed as follows:

President: Dr Evelyn Pullicino

Vice-President: Dr Charles Farrugia

Secretary: Marica Camilleri

Assistant Secretary: Mary Anne Farrugia

Treasurer: Dott. Gerald Bugeja

Education Officer/Editor: Prof. George Cassar

Membership Secretary: Martin Hampton

Public Relations Officer: Doris Zammit

International and Social Media Officer: Danica Abela

One of the major undertakings was the publication of the Journal L-Arkivju, which presented a collection of articles focused on archivistics and historical narratives, showcasing primary sources sourced from the National Archives and other information management institutions. This endeavour not only promotes the importance of archive work but also serves to educate and engage the public on Malta’s rich historical tapestry.

The members of the Friends of the National Archives have persisted in their efforts to

The website of the Friends of the National Archives has been revamped during 2024.

raise awareness about the urgent need for a new archives’ building. The committee members remained dedicated to convincing the government to identify a suitable location for a National Archives that would safeguard the cultural identity of the Maltese nation while adhering to international standards for archives. To further their goals, committee members actively engaged with political candidates, including those contesting elections for the European Parliament, fostering conversations about the importance of a new National Archives.

In celebrating the 25th anniversary of the organization, FNAM expressed excitement about hosting an array of activities throughout the year. Planned events include the launch of a book and public lectures, designed to commemorate their journey and engage the broader community in recognizing the value of their work.

Additionally, FNAM participated in an open day at the National Archives on April 21, 2024, which proved to be a highly successful event, drawing interest and engagement from the public. This outreach effort further solidified the relationship between FNAM and the community it serves.

A notable milestone was the cordial meeting between FNAM committee members and the President of the Republic, H.E. Myriam Spiteri Debono held at San Anton Palace on June 12, 2024. This meeting highlighted the importance of government support for archival efforts and the role that FNAM plays in national culture.

The revamping of the FNAM website was another significant achievement this year. The updated platform now provides detailed information, photos, links to news, and access to FNAM’s Facebook page, making it easier for members and the public to engage with the organisation. Membership renewal can now be completed online, adding a layer of convenience for supporters.

In collaboration with the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector, the committee also explored funding initiatives available for voluntary organizations. FNAM applied for the Voluntary Organisation Projects Scheme (VOPS) and Book Council funding; both applications were not successful. However, it is hoped that these discussions opened doors for future opportunities.

The Friends of the National Archives look forward to building on their efforts in the coming year. Their agenda remains focused on advancing the campaign for a new National Archives building, continuing to raise awareness about the vital role of archives, and honouring their legacy through various commemorative events celebrating 25 years of dedication to Malta’s cultural heritage.

VOLUNTEERS

We would like to express our gratitude to the volunteers who have assisted the National Archives during 2024.

We are grateful to these generous persons:

• Danica Abela

• Aaron Azzopardi

• Dione A zzopardi

• Gabriella Azzopardi

• Rosette Azzopardi

• Maria Elizabeth Azzopardi

• Alfred Bezzina

• Rose Borg

• Tiziana Borg Busuttil

• Joseph Bromidge

• Mary Buttigieg

• Mariella Cachia

• Mark Caruana

• Pauline Cassar

• Anthony Cesare

• John Deguara

• Andrea Farrugia

• Mark Farrugia

• Stephanie Formosa

• Norbert Gingell

• Martin Hampton

• Vincienne Inguanez

• Twanny Mifsud

• Vince Pulis

• Mevrick Spiteri

• Skye Vassallo

• Fiona Vella

• Raisa Zammit

• Laurence Zerafa

Their commitment inspires us in our mission to preserve and promote the rich tapestry of our memory and identity. Their efforts have made a difference within our organization and profoundly impacted the broader community.

We are deeply thankful for their willingness to give their time and energy in order to support our shared goals. Their commitment is an inspiration to us.

FROM OUR DIARY

A short account of some of the events at the National Archives during 2024.

JANUARY

9

We hosted His Excellency Erdeniz Ş en, the Turkish Ambassador to Malta and discussed the development of cooperation between our archives as well joint projects.

10

Year 8 students from St Thomas More College (Żejtun) visited the National Archives together with three of their teachers. We shared views about our work and how this ties in with their education. Our discussion was very interesting.

25-26

We delivered a presentation during the seminar ‘Migration, Social Networking, and Storytelling in the Mediterranean organised by the Mediterranean Institute at the University of Malta and the Busan University of Foreign Studies (South Korea). Leonard Callus spoke about ‘Migration and the Archive’, focussing on our MEMORJA Project.

FEBRUARY

9

We signed a collaboration agreement with Ancestry, with a view of developing the first public family search service in Malta.

Ancestry, one the foremost global companies providing genealogy services, will digitise and create an index of the Ġuljana Letard Ciantar and other genealogy records within the National Archives’ holdings. Moreover, the National Archives will have full access, in our reading rooms, to Ancestry’s database; this data will be available to our researchers free of charge. The agreement was signed during a ceremony presided by Minister Owen Bonnici at St Matthew’s Chapel (Il-Maqluba) in Qrendi.

Students from St Aloysius College visited the Central Archive. Together we discussed different aspects of the National Archives of Malta. The students also had the opportunity to consult historical documents related to their college.

President visit. The President of Malta, His Excellency Dr George Vella visited our Head Office and the Central Archive at Santu Spirtu in Rabat. His Excellency met the staff and shared his appreciation of the work carried out.

MARCH

We hosted the Chief Electoral Commissioner and staff members of the Office of the Electoral Commission. The visit included the signing of a retention policy for the records being created and managed by this office to ensure that in the future these are transferred to the National Archives for permanent preservation.

The exhibition Māter was inaugurated at Santu Spirtu. It was developed through the collaboration between Spain and Malta where six invited artists have created new, site-specific works, engaging with the sites and their varied uses over time. The two venues of the exhibition (Santu Spirtu in Rabat and La Maternitat in Barcelona) share several aspects: both were hospitals and include a chapel and a pharmacy, both have a foundling wheel (Ruota) and both serve as archives (the National Archives of Malta and the Historical Archive of the Barcelona Provincial Council).

We participated at a research seminar organised by Heritage Malta where several entities involved in the cultural heritage sector shared and discussed areas of research being undertaken by their organisations. 20

The Malta Horticultural Society and Dr Joe Borg deposited the Society’s records at the National Archives. The Society, that has been in operation for 120 years (1903-2023), contributed in a significant manner towards a particular aspect of agriculture and is related to other areas, including the political, economic and social developments in Malta.

MĀTER

Between 9 and 30 March 2024 the National Archives hosted the exhibition Māter at the Central Archive in Santu Spirtu, Rabat. This exhibition, developed through the collaboration between Spain and Malta via Barcelona, was curated by Pilar Cruz, Alexia Medici, Margerita Pulè and was also held in Barcelona in MayJune 2024.

Māter explored the etymological meaning – and sociopolitical contexts of the word - taking on a set of unexpected connotations ranging from motherland, witchcraft, autonomy and bacterial growth. “Māter” (Latin: mother), etymologically is also related to motherland, checkmate, suppress or suffocate (an insurrection), “ogle” (an attractive person), mating, part of the brain, kill, or tomato, depending on the language.

The two venues (Santu Spirtu in Rabat and La Maternitat in Barcelona) shared several aspects: both served as hospitals and include a chapel and a pharmacy, both have a foundling wheel (Ruota) and both serve as archives (the National Archives of Malta and the Historical Archive of the Barcelona Provincial Council).

Six invited artists created new, sitespecific works for the project, engaging with the sites and their varied uses over time. These artists were Kristina Borg (Malta), Charlotte Nordgren Sewell (UKSweden), Agustín Ortiz Herrera (Spain), Irene Pérez Gil (Spain), Vanesa Varela (Spain) and Raphael Vella (Malta).

Themes which the artists engaged with included the politics of religion and witchcraft, bacterial growth and colonisation, plant-human relationships, as well as the politicisation of the mother-figure.

Photos: Elisa von Brockdorff

APRIL

The Chair of the Public Broadcasting Services Ltd (PBS) visited the National Archives and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to promote collaboration between our two entities, in particular in the archiving of audiovisual records.

16

Dr Michael Charles Kitson Attard Montalto, Mrs Susan Maria Lee Attard Montalto and Mr Philip Joseph Kitson Attard Montalto donated the Baroness of Benwarrad Maria Angela Kitson Attard Montalto Collection to the National Archives.

An archival lab session with the students reading for the MA in Archives and Records Management, accompanied by Dr Valeria Vanesio from the Department of Library Information and Archive Sciences at the University of Malta, was held at the Central Archive. The students were exposed to the cataloguing software used by the National Archives to describe its records and gradually make them available for research online.

17-18

We participated in the online Country Managers Meeting held in the Swiss Federal Archives in Berne. The meeting covered the APE Strategic Direction 2024-2026, as well as strategies for addressing the needs and expanding APE user sector, broadening its network of content creators, and obtaining more comprehensive and superior (meta) data.

21

In collaboration with the Ministry for National Heritage, Arts and Local Government we organised an Open Day at Santu Spirtu Rabat. This was a very successful event attended by thousands of people.

MAY 17

We participated in a half day seminar with several academics from the cultural heritage sector aimed at stimulating a discussion and foster joint research pathways around the concepts of Postcolonialism and Decolonisation.

28-29 28

We commemorated the 30th anniversary since the inauguration of Santu Spirtu in Rabat as the premises of the National Archive of Malta on 28 May 1994.

We participated in the meetings of the European Archives Group and the European Board of National Archivists held in Brussels and organised by the Belgian Presidency of the European Union.

JUNE

8

Grace Kang ended her two-month internship at our Conservation Lab. Grace is in her third year of a 4-year MA programme at the Tainan National University of Arts in Taiwan, specialising in Asian paintings and Paper conservation.

9

International Archives Day. We joined 22 European archives in a project led by a Slovenian and a Belgian archive, the Historical Archive of Celje and the Town Archive of Ieper. Since the International Archives Week coincided with the elections to the European Parliament we developed the theme of democracy as reflected in the archives as an instrument of democracy in the protection of citizens’ rights and the promotion of transparency and accountability.

JULY

The President of Malta, Her Excellency Myriam Spiteri Debono visited the National Archives. We discussed with the President our work and our plans to develop our services.

A two-week project where several volunteers joined our archivists in cleaning, removing metal inserts, and sorting chronologically police records started. Other sessions were held a few weeks later to continue sorting all the records which were cleaned and creating a catalogue for them. 15 linear meters of this accession were processed. 3 5

AUGUST

For the first time we shared footage related to Operation Pedestal (knows as il-Konvoy ta’ Santa Marija) from the vast collection of audiovisual records donated to the National Archives by Simon Cusens. We are working with PBS Malta on the digitisation, preservation and accessibility of these unique records.

SEPTEMBER

9-10

The National Archivist Dr Charles J. Farrugia and our IT Manager Mark Gauci participated in the Family Search Symposium held in Potsdam. This convention brought together more than 100 European archivists and discussed the topics “Artificial Intelligence for archives”, “Quality records for quality research”, “Creative strategies for records access”, and “Digital records transformation and preservation”.

11-12

We participated in in the online workshop ‘New Perspectives on Displaced Colonial Archives’ organised by Tim Livsey (Northumbria University, UK) and Shohei Sato (Waseda University, Japan), seeking to deepen knowledge of the ways that declining empires sorted, destroyed, and removed archives during the twentieth century. Dr Charles Farrugia and Leonard Callus delivered a presentation entitled ‘Migrated Archives, the Malta Case. Reflections by the National Archives of Malta’.

17-20

For the third consecutive year we participated in the Tbilisi International Archival Film Festival organised by the National Archives of Georgia.  During the film festival archival films from Estonia, Germany, USA, Portugal, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia, Catalonia, Peru, Moldova, Poland and Georgia were screened.  National Archivist Dr Charles J. Farrugia was also panel speaker at a discussion about the role of films in archival challenges, such as decolonization.

We hosted our volunteers to express our gratitude for their support and assistance.

4 OCTOBER

STRAIGHT TO THE POINT. The autobiography of photographer Kevin Casha was launched at the National Archives. He is a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, a highly awarded Maltese photographic artist and tutor with a career in photography spanning over 40 years. Kevin has donated a significant part of his photographic work to the National Archives.

An archival lab session with the students reading for an MA in Archives and Records Management at the University of Malta was held at Santu Spirtu. Archivist Zvetlana Pace Cassar, from the Archives Processing Unit, led the session that focussed on private archives within the National Archives.

We participated in the meetings of the European Archives Group and the European Board of National Archivists held in Budapest and organised by the Belgian Presidency of the European Union. 10 14-16

We hosted a session of Imago Melitae, the 41st international symposium of the International Map Collectors’ Society and the Malta Map Society. Besides a talk about the National Archives of Malta and the history of Santu Spirtu, we exhibited a selection of maps from our collection.

Prosecutors from Italy, Germany, Lithuania, and Romania who were in Malta on an exchange program organized by the European Judicial Training Network visited the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary Archive within the National Archives.

Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament visited the National Archives. We thank Dr Metsola for her encouragment and her promise of support to our work.

NOVEMBER

4-5

Kevin Buhagiar participated on behalf of the National Archives in the DLM Forum held at the National Archives of Hungary in Budapest. The theme of this two-day meeting was “30 Years of Digital Information Management – Looking Ahead and Learning from the Past.” With archivists, digital preservation specialists, and policy experts from across Europe, the forum explored the current state and the future trajectory of digital archiving, with a strong focus on how emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), are reshaping the landscape.

First-year students in the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) program visited our Courts and Tribunals Archive. Archivist Noel D’Anastas guided them through the Tribunal Armamentorum and the Consolato del Mare, which are valuable resources for their study on the development of commercial law in Malta. The visit was organised under the guidance of Prof. Raymond Mangion.

The President of Malta, Her Excellency Myriam Spiteri Debono visited the Gozo Archive that has been celebrating its 35th anniversary. The archive, situated in Triq Vajrinġa in Victoria, was inaugurated by Anton Tabone, Minister for Gozo and Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, Minister of Education on 24 November 1989, through the efforts of Mgr. Dr. Joseph Bezzina.

Dr Owen Bonnici, Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government, inaugurated the exhibtion ‘Karmenu Fava (1917-2009) - Life and Work’ at the Courts and Tribunals Archive in Imdina. We thank Ray Fava for donating his father’s photograhic collection to the National Archives and Steve Borg for curating the exhibition.

SECRET NO MORE. We celebrated a National Archives’ project in collaboration with the Courts and the Notary to Government which led to the opening of 232 secret wills, drawn up between 1693 and 1869, for historical research. This event organised together with Heritage Malta and the Malta University History Students Associaltion and included the Godfrey Wettinger Memorial Lecture was held at the Maritime Museum (Vittoriosa).

Liam Gauci delivered the lecture ‘A Secret No More – Guglielmo Lorenzi’s Secret Will’.

HISTORY IN OUR HANDS. We celebrated a project gathering the history and the memory of deaf people in Malta as well as that of their families. MEMORJA joined forces with the Maltese Sign Language Council and the Deaf People Association in this project, co-ordinated by Dr Den Matthews, that will form part of the National Archives.

NERIK MIZZI ‘THE GREATEST OF ALL MALTESE’

ON THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH

I feel marginally guilty for the death of Nerik Mizzi. Thankfully for my peace of mind, his mean killer went by a name far more resplendent than mine. Mizzi’s death-giver was called ‘sense of duty’. Nerik lived for it and died by it.

It was a shiveringly stark Friday evening in December 75 years ago and an amateur dramatic company, the Carlo Goldoni, was putting on a shiveringly stark play by Giuseppe Giacosa Come le Foglie – a disturbing drama all about the financial, moral and emotional bankruptcy of a bourgeois family. Ibsen, but in still darker hues. Bice Bisazza, the soul of the Goldoni, press-ganged me into taking part – the flimsiest role a compulsively shy fourteen-years-old could be trusted with short of courting disaster. That experience taught me little, except the menace and the panicky terrors of stage-fright.

Giovanni Bonello

25-year-old Nerik Mizzi, a student in Rome. This photo was shot in 1910 on the terrace of the Associazione della Stampa in Piazza Colonna. Photo: Fortunato and Enrico Mizzi Archive.

Enrico Mizzi had been Prime Minister of Malta for three months, head of a fragile, rickety minority government which only his sense of duty had made possible. The quiet, unassuming man our colonial owners had methodically persecuted, court-martialled, imprisoned, interned and exiled was now leading the nation in a maimed form of selfgovernment. Barely five years earlier, Mizzi had been caged behind barbed-wire in British concentration camps in Eastern Africa, and his italianate political party had been virtually wiped out by downpours of TNT from Italian aircraft.

On the Friday of the play Mizzi had been feeling quite poorly and his doctor had advised him to stay in bed. What? When duty called him to the airport to welcome Princess Margaret on a visit to Malta? He went to Luqa defying ghastly weather, waiting on the icy tarmac hatless and without a scarf (protocol so required). He greeted the royal visitor with the genuine warmth he felt for the British monarchy. On

his return his physician had again ordered bed for him. What? And let down the actors who were staging a play he had committed himself to attend?

Mizzi would not miss that performance for anything – one of the very first plays in Italian after the war. A sick man, he made his way to the Manoel Theatre for no reason other than that duty, according to his book, so required. I fight back any illusions he came to witness my dazzling stage debut – though the Bonellos always remained quite close to his heart. My father had been his inseparable companion in the African concentration camps, and his only son Natalino had stood as page-boy at my parents’ wedding.

The performance started and at some moment the Prime Minister suffered a heart attack. His secretary had almost to force him to leave the theatre and he was rushed home. In good, solid British tradition, the show must go on – and did.

Nerik Mizzi and Vincenzo Bonello, the author’s father, were interned and deported together between May 1940 and March 1945. Their entries in the Internment Camp Register. Photo: National Archives of Malta.

Next morning, again flouting doctor’s orders, he trudged to the Auberge d’Aragon, (then the Prime Minister’s office) where he went through some Saturday meetings he believed it would be undutiful to cancel. On the Monday following, Parliament convened and no way would Nerik miss being present. Duty and all that, angina or no angina.

His doctor, sensing his stubbornness, requested an armchair for the very ill Prime Minister to be carried bodily to the House. His wife, the pianist Bice Vassallo, entreated him not to go to Parliament: you will die there if you do. “Where else should a general die”, Mizzi answered, “if not on the battlefield?”1

On the point of leaving home, slumped on the makeshift sedan-chair, like an antique dignitary before the French Revolution, Dr Joe Miceli, a gentleman first and foremost and then an opposition MP, rang his doorbell, to

1 Minutes of the Legislative Assembly, The Hon. Giorgio Borg Olivier, sitting of December 22, 1950.

assure Mizzi he need not put his life at risk –he would not cast his vote while Nerik was unwell.

Little did Dr Miceli’s singular generosity serve. Nerik Mizzi passed away two days later – 75 years ago, the only Prime Minister of Malta to die in office.

The people gave him the greatest funeral ever in Maltese history. Chief mourners included the British authorities, those who had twice slammed him behind prison bars, in gold braid and top hats, looking solemn if not contrite, perhaps a little silly too, in that sea of grief. Among them the Commanderin-Chief of British forces in Malta who wrote to Mizzi’s widow “your husband’s record as a man of principle and as one wholeheartedly devoted to the welfare of these islands is one that is well known to us and which we greatly respect”. Really? Caging him for years in the lethal swamps of Uganda was a rather bizarre way of showing off that respect. But then,

who am I to judge the Commander-in-Chief of British forces in Malta?

Everything about Mizzi centred round what he perceived to be his duty. When the internees were housed in St Agatha’s convent on the outskirts of Rabat, bombs started raining on Malta and the convent’s lack of an air-raid shelter increased the risks of the internees’ survival. The authorities decided to excavate a shelter underground - whether to protect the lives of the prisoners or that of their jailers could be deemed questionable.

The convent overlies one of the most spectacular complexes of early Christian catacombs south of Rome. This did not hinder the plans of the camp’s command to rip and build through them as if cultural sensitivity had overnight turned into a crime. On learning of this outrage planned against Malta’s historical heritage, Mizzi, placing his sense of duty before his personal survival, protested loudly, to stop the vandalism. So did Vincenzo Bonello and the rector of the convent. The Philistines responded by reinforcing their deliberate deafness - and that archaeological havoc in the catacombs remains their perennial monument to crass and arrogant ignorance.

2

Nerik’s sense of duty never seems to have let him down. Imprisoned in Verdala barracks after being convicted by court martial in 1917, the colonial authorities had a brave go at trying to buy his silence. They offered him a seat on the judicial bench, well knowing that a judge is permanently out of the political arena. He saw through the maladroit bribe dangled before him and refused to consider the crooked graft.

3

In the African concentration camps, the authorities offered Mizzi (he was a member of parliament then) preferential treatment –he could, had he opted to, live in separate, more comfortable quarters. He refused, all in the name of duty. He believed his lot to be

Max Farrugia, L-internament u l-ezilju, Malta, 2006, p. 37.

3 Nerik Mizzi, Fondazzjoni Fortunato u Enrico Mizzi, Malta, 2010, p. 16.

Nerik Mizzi during his deportation in Africa, 1942-45. Photo: Fortunato and Enrico Mizzi Archive.

with the other deportees, and that is where he chose to remain throughout the whole length of his exile.4

When Mizzi returned to Malta from Africa, the Lt. Governor sent for him, to warn him officially to keep his mouth shut on any political issues. Or else.... Mizzi, just released from colonial penance, dared the officer, inviting some more: “I will do my duty. Then, if you wish to, you do yours. I will say all I believe I have to say and will do my duty. You do yours if you believe you have to”.5 Despite this pledge of more sanctions still, he immediately rejoined the political fray, his voice loud and clear. Threats of bullies often obtain wayward results with patriots.

Mizzi’s greatness proved no obstacle to his dying a perfect pauper.

the soul of their arch-enemy. “You never heard from his lips a vulgar word, a word of hate or of vendetta, despite the fact he had suffered so much”.7

Mizzi, though politically seasoned and sharp, could be extraordinarily naive when it came to other life-skills. After the British security services arrested the nationalist leader to court-martial him for treason during the First World War, he entrusted his defence to his uncle the lawyer Dr Lewis Mizzi, whose rabid veneration for the empire by far surpassed his forensic talents. The court convicted Mizzi, sentencing him to one year’s imprisonment, which the Governor later reduced to three months.8

Forgiveness turned out to be another word that recurs repeatedly in Mizzi’s afflicted life history. He spent all his existence forgiving, and his agony too. He pardoned all those who had wronged him and begged forgiveness of any he might have let down. He really had plenty to forgive. From his court martial in 1917, to his imprisonment in 1940, to his deportation to Africa in 1942.

Nerik’s most virulent political enemy had been the imperialist Lord Strickland who had started his political career as a candidate in Mizzi’s father nationalist party but had soon turned the tables on the patriotic movement to become its most unappeasable foe.

Mizzi, arrested and detained with the rest of the Maltese intelligentsia by the machinations of the British secret services and of the Strickland coterie, had been among the first to hear, in St Agatha’s internment camp, of Lord Strickland’s death.6 His reaction was one of totally unrealistic compassion: he immediately gathered the other internees round him - to pray fervently for the repose of

4 Ibid, p. 20.

5 Ibid. p. 21

6 August 22, 1940.

Dr Lewis Mizzi, liege to his oath of service, the defence counsel we all dream of having, shared with Strickland’s daughter his view that his client deserved no leniency at all and that, were it for him, Enrico Mizzi would have been executed. Nerik came to know about this prime prototype of lawyer’s loyalty – he forgave and forgot.9 Mizzi was undoubtedly a better man than me. For my part I believe Christians forgive, cretins forget.

The nationalist leader only cried once during his adult life – publicly, unreservedly, shamelessly – when, at the beginning of the war, the gross pro-imperial rabble, incited by the chic pro-imperial rabble, destroyed the marble plaque commemorating the patriot Fortunato Mizzi, his father. He sobbed heartbrokenly, and forgave.10

Mizzi nonetheless forwarded to the prosecuting authorities the accounts of two eyewitnesses who had been present and had identified the vandals who, according to them, had ravaged the memorial. These included Joseph Olivieri Munroe (the de facto editor of the Times of Malta), Carmelo Grioli, Lorenzo Cossai, Walter O’Dea and Murgo, a barber with a shop next to the Casino Maltese.

7 Herbert Ganado, “Il-mewt ta’ Nerik Mizzi”, Leħen is-Sewwa, December 30, 1950.

8 Austin Sammut, The Court Martial of Enrico Mizzi, Malta, 2005.

9 Arturo Mercieca, Il-Mixja ta’ Hajti, Malta, 2010, p. 93.

10 Ganado, ibid

Mizzi requested proper investigations into this public breach of the law.11 It’s a good thing the imperial authorities were too busy policing the rule of law elsewhere. Nothing would otherwise have spared these British loyalists the death penalty at the hands of British firing squads.

Mizzi’ successor, Dr Giorgio Borg Olivier, recounted how, on the politician’s return from Uganda, they used to go around together, meeting people. Many would step forward to shake Nerik’s hand. In a crowd Borg Olivier recognized someone who had done his utmost, and then some more, to get Mizzi deported. He warned Mizzi: do not shake his hand – and got rebuked for his pains. “That man may have erred, and who knows how often I have. But if he feels he must come to me, how can I not welcome him, the same way I welcome all those who never did me any harm?”12

11 Farrugia, op. cit., p. 177.

12 Borg Olivier, ibid

Did Mizzi forgive the British their unstinting persecution of the patriot of colonial resistance? As Prime Minister, Mizzi had stuck up an excellent, warm relationship with the Governor, Sir Gerald Creasy. So harmonious was their working liaison that it worried him.

“I fear people will start believing that I am no longer the Mizzi of former times and have now become buddy-buddy with the Governor. I wish I could find one occasion to make a scene, but this Governor is so honest and loyal in his dealings with me that he has never once given me a chance to” he lamented with genuine regret.13

Mizzi’s fear of losing his aura of embattled crusader sometimes led him down irrational avenues. During the sea-passage to his exile on HMS Breconshire, the British officers had treated the internees with appalling inhumanity. On arriving in Kampala, Captain John Roberts, a fine gentleman, took the

13 Ganado, Rajt Malta Tinbidel, Vol. III, Malta, 1975, p. 391.

Nerik Mizzi with some of deportees in the internment camp at Bombo (Uganda); Herbert Ganado is on his right. Mizzi’s deportation in Africa lasted over 3 years, between Febuary 13, 1942 and March 8, 1945. Photo: Fortunato and Enrico Mizzi Archive.

prisoners to a good hotel and laid out a lavish buffet dinner for them.

Nerik, never one to contradict his stomach, tucked in, but with suitable patriotic qualms of conscience. He told Ganado “This spread is surely a mistake. It must have been meant for some other party that failed to turn up”. Ganado reined in his impatience – no mistake, he retorted, just a sign that some British persons too can be humane. After the savagery on the Breconshire, what more do you want? That they beat us up and starve us so we will cut a better figure in history? At first Mizzi resisted, but then, as was his want, burst out in uncontainable laughter.14

An obscure, shameful episode surfaced after Mizzi’s death, an episode that was instantly muffled and erased from the annals by the brutal intervention of British security omerta’.

A leading member of the Opposition, the Hon. Dom Mintoff, during the sitting of the Legislative Assembly of May 19, 1952, looking pointedly at the Hon. Mabel Strickland, revealed to Parliament that just before the outbreak of the war, members of the British secret services (better known as the dirty tricks brigade) accompanied by employees of the Berqa (the Maltese daily founded by Lord Strickland), at dead of night used to enter stealthily the premises where Mizzi’s evening daily, the MALTA, was printed.

The conspirators would remove the leadtype of some feature from the metal flans of Mizzi’s daily, and substitute it with that of inflammatory, treasonable articles concocted by themselves. They then printed some copies of the forged newspapers and left after putting everything back as it was before. These faked copies they then forwarded where they believed it would hurt Mizzi most.

The British security services were so short of evidence to nail Mizzi with that, in utter despair, they resorted to counterfeiting and imposture.

Prime Minister Nerik Mizzi leaving St John’s Cathedral following the mass celebrated on the opening of Parliament on 16 October 1950, together with Ministers Giuseppe Agius Muscat, Carmelo Caruana and Giorgio Borg Olivier (first, third and fifth from left). Private Secretary Eric Firman is the second one from the right.

Photo: National Archives of Malta.

Nerik Mizzi with minsters (front) and other MPs following the September 1950 election. Photo: National Archives of Malta.

Nerik Mizzi arriving at the Palace (where Parliament met) as Prime Minister, 1950. Photo: National Archives of Malta.

“We find consolation in the knowledge that we served under the leadership of a man, admired by one and all for his political integrity and honesty of purpose.”

to the nation as

on the

Giorgio Borg Olivier’s first address

Prime Minister

day of Nerik Mizzi’s death. Photo: National Archives of Malta, NAM/OPM/1038/1950

Mr Mintoff’s dramatic revelations were taken up by the editor of the new periodical MALTA, Dr Vincenzo M. Pellegrini, who did his homework thoroughly and, in the June 2, 1952 issue of his paper promised prominently, on the front page and in bold type, to reveal all the details of this dastardly colonial plot against Mizzi “giving names, surnames and other sensational details – so help me God”.

God didn’t. Instead of divine help, Pellegrini received an official security warning, threatening him with criminal prosecution and imprisonment should he ever divulge anything about the episode, and even if he disclosed the fact that he had been served with the security gag-order. The threat of cowardly and obfuscating criminal sanctions thwarted the editor’s promise to his readers to unmask more details of the despicable plot.

Mizzi died without being aware he had been the victim of yet another dirty trick. Had he known, I bet he would have forgiven.

fortitude, coupled with a serene courage, he displayed on every occasion.

Unruffled when, on the outbreak of war, he and the other political prisoners were deliberately placed in Fort Salvatore (overlooking the naval arsenal) to serve as human shields, to protect with their persons the Dockyard and an important oil bunkering depot. Unruffled at barely escaping death when sixteen bombs hit and exploded in Fort Salvatore, devastating the place where he was detained. Unperturbed when, in the Kordin prison, he was, by wellordered ‘accidental coincidence’, placed in the cell reserved for those condemned to death awaiting execution.15

Despite the sinister persecutions Enrico Mizzi had suffered throughout his life at the hands of the Maltese who aped the British and of the British who aped God, his innate fortitude allowed him to retain his good cheer. This

Unruffled when, locked up in the hold of HMS Breconshire heading for Egypt, his ship escaped when virtually all the others in the same convoy were hit or sunk. Composed when the ship avoided by a hair’s breath an aerial torpedo by so sharp a swerve that it knocked off their knees and felled all the internees in the hold. Augustly unconcerned when officially warned that, if their ship was hit, any Maltese seen heading for the lifeboats would be shot on sight. Calm when in

15 Nerik Mizzi, op. cit., p. 18.

A funerary card published on Nerik Mizzi’s death. Photo: Fortunato and Enrico Mizzi Archive.

Africa bouts of malaria wracked his shaking and spasm-contorted frame.16

A benign sense of humour never abandoned him – one which showed he took most things seriously, himself less so. Notorious for his absent-mindedness, he loved to recount, amid loud fits of laughter how, needing a new pair of shoes, he went to three different shops to have them made, forgetting each time his previous orders. He ended receiving – and paying for - three pairs instead of one (he could hardly afford one).

Herbert Ganado described him as “the most absent-minded person (skantat) in the world”.17 To exemplify this, Ganado tells how once, while Mizzi was leaving the Giovane Malta club, a correspondent from an important Italian daily stopped the politician at the door asking him where he could find Mizzi. “I last saw him in the billiards room” Nerik replied guilelessly about himself.18

His absent-mindedness kept him steadfast company on his wedding day too. Nerik and Bice Vassallo exchanged their marriage vows in the morning. In the afternoon he had

16 Ganado, ibid

17 Ganado, ibid., p. 82.

18 Ganado, Lehen is-Sewwa, ibid

some business to look after – and after that he headed routinely for the old family home to sleep – only to be reminded by his mother of his wedding earlier that day, and advised that he had better go to the new conjugal residence.19

Another example of Mizzi’s secure tenancy of Cloud Nine was when, as Prime Minister, the Royal Navy invited him to visit a British warship. Coming on deck a sailor greeted him with the traditional whistle salute ‘piping him aboard’. Mizzi knew nothing of naval customs and at first thought the sailors were making fun of the head of a small colony. “I was on the point of raising a major fuss” Mizzi recalled, laughing uncontainably.20

Asked what he would have liked to be had he been given a free choice, Mizzi answered: a great musician, a great theologian or an astronomer. Why an astronomer? he was pressed. Because I already live in the stars, he admitted candidly. This sounds better in Maltese: għax ġa ngħix fil-qamar

Mizzi was one who ate with great gusto. He loved his food. On a convalescent diet in the

19 Joe Felice Pace, “The Woman behind Nerik Mizzi” in The Sunday Times, January 9, 2001.

20 Ganado, Rajt Malta Tinbidel, Vol. III, Malta 1975, p. 388.

camp, his doctor prescribed for him ‘a half boiled egg’. To aggravate him, Herbert Ganado persuaded the nurse that this meant half a boiled egg. Mizzi felt terribly mortified by the insignificant sustenance staring at him – until he took in Ganado’s taunt.

As a young man, a penniless bachelor who had no interest in earning a living from his law profession, Mizzi may not have been the most enticing of conquests for a marriageable lady. The Machiavellian Lord Strickland toyed with the idea of a strategic dynastic union: why not marry Mizzi off to one of his daughters, a pretty girl who Nerik actually fancied?

Mizzi seems to have been tempted by the prospect, but then his sense of patriotic duty prevailed – he felt he owed the nation his unfettered liberty to defend his anti-Strickland principles to the hilt, free from the reverential fear of a querulous father-in-law. He often recounted this episode, but without malice. Marrying the daughter of his main political enemy ranked among his favourite jokes.

Lord Strickland advertised his political programme loudly “True imperialism is the highest form, indeed the only form, of nationalism” ... ”We should henceforth be as thoroughly English as possible, in speech and in thought as well as in fact”.21 This total deficit of self-respect, these abysmal levels of national self-esteem sound pathetic today. To the patriots, to the visionaries, they sounded equally pathetic a hundred years ago.

As a politician, Enrico Mizzi directed his considerable energies towards resisting the colonial ‘anglicization’ of Malta, which went hand in hand with the deliberate eradication of the centuries-old Italian cultural traditions of the islands. For him the survival of Malteseness also meant taking sides between the imperial imposition of English and the retention of Italian, for centuries Malta’s cultural identity-card. And yet... And yet, in Uganda, he once found himself disregarding his own principles. The confessor of the Maltese exiles was the good Fr Patrick Pejres, an enlightened Hungarian Catholic. All the prisoners who sought the sacrament

21 Victor Aquilina, Strickland House, Malta, 2010, p. 27, 28.

of confession made use of him. One day a puzzled Fr Pejres asked publicly: how is it that all the Maltese confess in Italian, and only Enrico Mizzi discloses his sins in English? The other prisoners just couldn’t stop teasing Nerik, now exposed as a closet anglophile. “How was I to know Fr Patrick speaks Italian? No one here ever tells me anything”.22

The laugh was sometimes on him too. The great man lisped endearingly, always managing to pronounce his “s” as the English “sh” or a Maltese “x”. Against all rational expectations, in 1947 his Nationalist Party succeeded in electing a candidate in every electoral district in Malta. Mizzi exulted. He is said to have rejoiced at the top of his voice “M’hawnx post Malta li mhux Nazzjonalista”. I cannot vouch for the historical accuracy of this debacle. It may be apocryphal for all I know.

It is intriguing to establish how Nerik’s political adversaries assessed his personality in private. The memoirs of a Governor of Malta, General Charles Bonham-Carter, published in 2004, furnish good insights into this. Mizzi and Bonham-Carter each stood squarely for what the other abhorred. The Governor had only one agenda – that of promoting colonialism and “our (read British) imperial interests in Malta” as he repeatedly underscores. Mizzi towered undaunted on the other side – the side of those who dreamt of dismantling colonialism and promoting Maltese nationhood. An artless David challenging the behemoth Goliath. Bonham-Carter and his grovelling Maltese lackeys took it for granted that one nation had some God-given right to be the master of another nation. Nerik Mizzi believed only dogs have masters.

Mizzi, while favouring the retention of the Italian cultural profile of Malta, was anything but fascist, though, before the war, he had harboured a personal admiration for Mussolini – then shared with most leading European democratic statesmen. He could never have been fascist. “Politically he was a liberal in his democratic beliefs. He had studied and lived

22 Ganado, op. cit., p. 47.

in Italy during the heydays of Italian liberalism. And I am certain that had the fascists taken Malta, the first one to pick up a fight with them would have been him.

“Nerik was never one to serve, but an independent person, a great individualist, so politically democratic that he opposed the setting up of a Senate. He was an aristocrat, but only intellectually. And, above all, his character was such that he would have faced martyrdom for his ideals. You could break him, as the war almost did, but you could not force him to his knees”.23

The bad blood between the colonial Governor and the anti-colonial opposition was expected, palpable and programmatic. Mizzi stood in the way of turning Malta into a sad third-division parody of the ‘mother country’. Bonham-Carter, on the other hand, represented the disagreeable assumption that the Maltese should be happy to be servants in their own home. Don’t bank on any gushes of sympathy either way. There were none.

And yet Bonham-Carter, while hating Mizzi’s guts and making no effort to hide it, (he actually recorded how he relished being deliberately rude to the nationalist leaders Enrico Mizzi

23 Ganado, op. cit., p. 112.

and Sir Ugo Mifsud24), was secretly charmed by the idealist on the other side of the fence. He almost regretted his inability to strike up a personal friendship with Nerik: “I find that although Enrico Mizzi is a very pleasant fellow to meet, I cannot bring myself to make friends with him”.25 “I met E. Mizzi for the first time. Very pleasant he was”.26 He records the judgement of the Colonial Secretary, Malcolm MacDonald27, on the latter’s meetings with the Maltese political leaders. Dr Paul Boffa and Joseph Orlando Smith, both of the Labour Party, he dismissed as “lightweights”; about Enrico Mizzi, MacDonald remarked that he is “completely fanatical, but with a highly developed sense of humour. He got on well with him”.28

Bonham-Carter compared Sir Gerald Strickland’s to Mizzi’s parliamentary oratory: “Mizzi was quite reasonable and gave a chance to his translator, (Captain William) Parnis, to do his job properly. Strickland, as before, was terribly prolix”.29

24 Ed. John Manduca, The Bonham-Carter Diaries, Malta, 2004, p. 354.

25 Ibid., p 448

26 Ibid., p. 271.

27 Son of Prime Minister Ramsey MacDonald, 1901-1981. The 1939 Constitution was named after him.

28 Manduca, op.cit., p. 256.

29 Ibid., p. 367.

Nerik Mizzi’s funeral at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta on 23 December 1950. Photo: Fortunato and Enrico Mizzi Archive.

The Governor at that time understood well a paradox which today’s dismal nostalgics of the empire fail to understand: that one can quite coherently be both pro-British and anti-colonialist. Nerik Mizzi was certainly one (and, for all it’s worth, I am another). Mizzi assured the Lt. Governor John Adams Hunter, that he was anything but anti-British “If I were anti-British I would have the courage to say so. (This is probably true)”.30 It was not Mizzi and his followers who were anti-British. It was the pawns of the British who were antiMaltese. Many of them worshipped the Kingparticularly his face on bank notes.

To what extent Mizzi was anti-British, as opposed to anti-colonialist, he tells us himself: “We never insulted the British flag, because we respect it, the way we respect the British nation – in fact we have a genuine admiration for the British power. But, if we have respect and admiration for the British nation, we also have respect for the Maltese nation, for our traditions and our civilization, and we will let no one intimidate us under the pretext of disloyalty”.

31

30 Ibid., p. 396.

31 Council of Government, sitting of May 9, 1940.

On an earlier occasion Mizzi had already underlined the distinction between being anti-colonialist and being anti-British “I protest against all the false rumours spread about me including that of attributing to me Anglophobe sentiments I have never had. My Nationalist ideas are well known but Anglophobe sentiments I have never had. I have never been the server of anybody, much less of England, but Anglophobe I have never been. This would also be contrary to my nature”.32

Governor Bonham-Carter’s diaries also witness a second paradox. The two nationalist leaders, Sir Ugo and Mizzi, each came with a very well-defined persona. Sir Ugo, the moderate politician, suave, aristocratic in his manners, conciliatory, a frequenter of the middle road. Nerik Mizzi, the fanatic, the uncompromising, all or nothing crusader. And yet Bonham-Carter, though politically repelled by Mizzi, had far greater esteem for him than for Sir Ugo, who, for his pains, he dubbed “a weak ass”.33

In fact, the Governor also records Lord Strickland’s very startling views of his two

32 Sitting of the National Assembly, February 22, 1929.

33 Manduca, op. cit., p. 339.

Nerik Mizzi’s funeral. “The irony of destiny! All the admirals in Malta, the heads of all the Services, the captains of the warships and the colonels of the British regiments in Malta together with all the officers, marched behind a person who was exiled by the British Empire five years earlier.” (Herbert Ganado, Rajt Malta Tinbidel III, 393). Photo: National Archives of Malta.

nationalist adversaries: “the best speech was made by Ugo Mifsud himself, Strickland himself who spoils most of his speeches however by attacking Mizzi and Ugo Mifsud, of whom he hates the latter more than the former. Dr (Henry) Sacco is always long and tedious”.34

overwhelming tribute: “The greatest of all Maltese” he warbled in Parliament.36 Only the superlative would do for his lifetime opponent.

Mizzi’s death engendered many moving words, from those who loved him most, but also from those who hated him less. I find it difficult to choose, and will, perhaps arbitrarily, settle for the expressions of another major patriot: “He died at his work-place; a person great in character who, throughout his industrious life in Maltese politics, always retained a young and valorous spirit, a brave servant of his nation, an indomitable fighter for his country’s rights, a benefactor of the people.

“He took for himself the defiant mantle left by his father, Fortunato Mizzi, the greatest of patriots. Like his father, he sacrificed his life and his health in the service of Malta, as a political writer, a superior orator in the Parliamentary Assembly and in public meetings, and as an administrator of the public wealth.

“In his unending fight to achieve his national goals, he was the first to conceive the idea and to foster the concept of Dominion Status (independence) for Malta. In his lifetime he suffered slander, humiliation, court martial, imprisonment and exile. But nothing could ever break his spirit, till he emerged victorious”.35

Bow your heads in awe before the colossus.

What the Labour leader said bears repeating. “We always found him an immaculate antagonist, alien to hate or to vendetta. He was one who showed, by deeds, that ideals are to be pursued not only when the winds are blowing your way, but mostly in stormy times, in times of dejection, in times of trouble. He never wavered in his views but stayed steadfast, stayed Maltese, the greatest of all Maltese.

“We should all be proud that he was Maltese, and that he left behind him a chapter filled with strength of character which, in spite of our smallness, should draw the admiration of the whole world. We trust the Maltese will continue to remember him as the man of integrity who was even ready to lay down his life for his principles. We of the Labour Party did not so far say this in public, but we felt it and said it privately. As he asked for our forgiveness, we ask for his”.

37

Nerik Mizzi faced with truly heroic steadfastness a whole life of persecution and punishment. He led the patriotic movement that opposed colonialism, serfdom and the Empire, in a quest for self-determination. The imperial authorities imprisoned him for sedition in the first world war, suppressed his self-government constitution in the inter-war years, imprisoned him again and then exiled him to East African concentration camps without charge or trial at the outbreak of the second world war, depriving him illegally and arbitrarily of his liberty for five years. He died a pauper a few weeks after being sworn in as Prime Minister in 1950.

Dom Mintoff may have excelled in many fields, but his virtues hardly included praising others, least of all his political adversaries. Yet something once made him break his quite habitual contrariness. When Dr Enrico Mizzi died in December 1950, he gushed in

34 Ibid., p. 439.

35 Mercieca, op. cit., p. 292.

When WW2 became inevitable, the imperial authorities in Malta rounded up all those Maltese they believed, rightly or wrongly, could pose a security threat. These included

36 Debates, Legislative Assembly, Sitting December 22, 1950. Mr Mintoff’s speech is reproduced in Giovanni Bonello, “Nerik Mizzi, the Greatest of All Maltese”, in The Sunday Times of Malta, December 19, 26, 2010.

37 Debates, Legislative Assembly, December 22, 1950.

Dr Mizzi, leader of the patriotic movement, the chief justice Sir Arturo Mercieca, the Dean of the Cathedral Chapter Mgr Albert Pantalleresco, various university academics, the editor Dr Herbert Ganado, J.J. Cremona (soon released for motives most abject) and my father Vincenzo, founder and curator of the National Museum of Fine Arts.

No reason was ever given for their imprisonment, nor were they ever charged with any offence. In 1942, the detention authorities informed 41 of them that they would be deported to Africa. They challenged the exile order in the courts of Malta and His Majesty’s judges, in two separate judgements, certified their deportation unconstitutional and illegal.38 They were deported to African concentration camps all the same.

On Friday 13 February 1942 (anyone superstitious?) they were put in the hold of the armed cargo liner Breconshire, and ferried to Alexandria, to begin their long exile. The sea crossing proved adventurous and perilous. At least four of the exiles later published fulllength and highly colourful personal memoirs of their sea-journey and their stays in African concentration camps.39

Enrico Mizzi’s autobiography never saw the light. He is known to have kept a meticulous diary during his imprisonment and exile, but his luggage was raided on his way back to Malta from Africa, and his diaries seized by the British secret services. They have not

38 Max Farrugia, L-internament u l-Ezilju, Malta, 2007, pp. 505 – 534.

39 Arturo Mercieca, Le Mie Vicende, Malta, 1947, later translated into English and Maltese; Herbert Ganado, Rajt Malta Tinbidel, Volume II, III, Malta, 1974, 1975; Edgar Soler, The King’s Guests in Uganda, Malta, 1986; Albert Gauci, Mistieden tar-Re!, Malta, 1996.

been found since, though they might well turn up one day.

I have traced two long letters written from Africa by Enrico Mizzi to the Governor of Malta Sir William Dobbie, a blow-by-blow account of the exiles’ journey from Malta to Africa.

For his own reasons, Mizzi from Africa wanted to keep the Governor in Malta updated with all the salient events in the exiles’ journey, a narrative and a diary combined. His first letter, (almost five foolscap pages typed single spacing) was written in English from the Cairo citadel on March 2, 1942. It is not in the National Archives, so it may never have reached Malta. But the Fortunato and Enrico Mizzi Foundation houses the hand-written original and a carbon copy.

In the second letter40, sent from Bombo on April 16, 1942, Mizzi recounts, vividly and in detail, the deportees’ voyage from Cairo to Mongalla in Sudan, on another occasion. This is preserved in File CSG 01/3114/1942 at the National Archives. At the end of this letter Mizzi indicates that he was planning to send the third letter, covering the journey from Juba (Sudan) to Bombo (Uganda). Unfortunately, this letter has not been traced yet.

These two letters, found in two different archives, profile Mizzi as a compulsive gentleman, unswerving in courage and dignity, a fanatic for fairness and stoicism even in the face of iniquity and crass injustice, burdened by the highest standards of integrity, never fawning, defiant in adversity. The captive writes to his jailer as an equal, without a trace of cockiness, and equally without a trace of servility.

40 This letter is being reproduced in pages 247 – 256.

Giovanni Bonello was judge at the European Court of Human Rights for 12 years, after a career as a constitutional and human rights lawyer, in the course of which he defended 170 human rights lawsuits in domestic and international courts. He is a founder Member of European Commission for Democracy through Law (The Venice Commission).

Dr Bonello has published 36 volumes on art, history of Malta and of photography and on human rights law - five of which won the Best Book of the Year Award. Five books about his career and achievements have been published by independent authors.

His interests include archival research, non-figurative photography, African art and baroque music.