National Archives of Malta (L-Arkivji Nazzjonali ta' Malta)

Overview

The National Archives of Malta (Maltese: L-Arkivji Nazzjonali ta' Malta) is the central national archive of Malta, headquartered at the former Santo Spirito Hospital in Rabat. It operates under the National Archives Act (Cap 477, 2005) and falls within the remit of the Ministry for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government. The Archives is responsible for preserving the collective memory of the Maltese nation through the protection and accessibility of all public archives.

History and Founding

Efforts to establish a national archive began in 1971, when a Committee on the Preservation of Public Records was formed. In January 1986 a governmental committee was established to plan a standalone National Archives. Records of Malta's courts were transferred to a facility in Mdina beginning in September 1987; transfer of all other records to Rabat was completed in July 1989. The Archives' new headquarters at the former Santo Spirito Hospital in Rabat was officially opened on 28 May 1994 by President Ugo Mifsud Bonnici. The first regulating legislation, Act IV (1990), was followed by Act V (2005), which created the position of National Archivist and gave the Archives legal personality as a government institution. Dr. Charles Farrugia holds the post of National Archivist and CEO. The MEMORJA oral, sound, and visual archive was established as a project within the NAM in 2017.

Collections and Holdings

The National Archives of Malta maintains four facilities:

• Central Archive, Rabat: The headquarters, holding the main collections of government records.
• Courts and Tribunals Archive, Mdina (formerly the Legal Documentation Section, opened 1988): Houses court and tribunal records dating back to the Knights Hospitaller era.
• Notarial Registers Archive, Valletta: Transferred from the Notarial Archives Foundation in 2020; includes notarial records originally established in 1640.
• Gozo Archive, Victoria: Holds over 9,000 items relating to Gozo.

Private collections include the papers of Sir Anthony Mamo and Dom Mintoff, the photographic collection of May Agius, and the Tony Terribile collection. The National Audio-Visual Institute (NAVI), associated with the Archives, holds approximately 354,000 items including photographic slides, film reels, audio tapes, and CDs.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism and Media

The MEMORJA programme, established in 2017, collects oral history recordings, photographs, film reels, and audio recordings documenting Maltese community life and history. NAVI's audiovisual collection includes film reels and audio tapes of historical significance to Maltese broadcast and print media history. Private papers deposits include materials related to Malta's political and public life.

Access and Usage

All four reading rooms are open to researchers aged 16 and above with valid identification. The online catalogue (AtoM) allows searching of catalogued fonds. Digital objects and publications, including an annual report and periodic newsletters, are available on the Archives' website. An e-shop facilitates purchase of copies of holdings.