F
La Porte Royale a la Valette by Louis Ducros ( 17481810) Pen and ink, water colour, the figures hightened with gouache. The
development of City Gate and its surroundings will be discussed during this year's public lecture. Credit to Mus6e Cantonal des
BeauxArts, Lausanne. More details on back page.
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RIEE` ~~ THE NATIONALARCHIVES NEWSLETTER
MESSAGE FROM THE
NATIONALARCHIVIST Charles J. Farrugia
Welcome to the packed October issue of the National Archives
14 August 2007 Donation of World War 11 casualties index
Newsletter! During the last few months we had been busy working
compiled by john Agius MBE. (From left: Dr Mark Agius, Mr Charles j. Farrugia, Ms. May Agius and
on and launching several initiatives at the Archives, A security
Mr Henry DeMarco)
system was installed at the Legal Documentation Section in Mdina.
Wth the support of the Ministry for Investment, Industry and
Information Technology we are also working on our new website. We hope that this will be launched by the end of the year and will provide our clients with new services and better accessibility to our holdings.
Another area of activity was the constant promotion for our institution through the organisation of guided visits to our
repositories, Documents from our holdings participated in exhibitions both locally and abroad. More sorting and cleaning
of records was carried out by volunteers and students on work placements.
Underthe 2005 Archives Actthe provision of training in records
management to public sector employees is also part of our remit, We kickstarted initiatives in this area through an introduction to
records management course, Due to the impressive response
..i
iffl r+ .,>`+jng=FEEEiE I 27 june 2007 The Leader of the Opposition the Hon. Dr
for this course, we had to add another training session to the one
Alfred Sant during a visit to the National Archives. From left:
originally planned.
Dr. Alfred Sant, Dr justyne Caruana, Mr Steve Borg, Mr Max
In this issue we are publishing an account of the activities held
Farrugia, Rev. Dr. joseph Bezzina, Mr Charles j. Farrugia.
by the Gozo Section during Notte Gozitana, the Santa Marija festivities, and also the preparations at hand for future events. Dr
Anton Bugeja, one of the researchers who makes extensive use of our holdings writes about the value of the records we have relevant to archaeological research. We are also publicizing the events that will take place during
the Awareness Week 2007. This year's awareness week will be
held between the 22 27 October 2007. The theme chosen is `Archives: Bridging the past and the future". The Public lecture will
be addressed by Architect Michael Ellul, a long standing researcher
on architectural history,
The month of October also sees the next intake of students for theDiplomainArchivesandRecordsManagementattheuniversity of Malta, I would like to congratulate the first four students who will
graduate at Diploma level in Archives and Records Management in
25 May 2007 U3E students from Gozo visit the National
the coming weeks.
Archives as part of the course `LArkivji Maltin', organised
at the University Gozo Centre.
i__
Visitors at the National Archives some half an hour before midnight
joseph Bezzina, the Assistant National Archivist, welcoming Dr Lawrence Gonzi, Prime Minister
Mr Anton Tabone, Speaker of the House of
of Malta (right) to the exhibition
Representatives; and to joseph N. Tabone
joseph Bezzina indicating some exhibits to
|H
Guide Books Exhibition August has been synonymous with Gozo since time immemorial.
series, Nadur the village of the rising sun, came out on 28 june
Heavy ferry traffic from the Grand Harbour to the port of Mgarr in
2007.
Gozo is recorded as early as midsummer of 1598. People flock to
The exhibition was inaugurated by the Honorable Giovanna
the island for the celebration of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
Debono, Minister for Gozo, on 9 August and ran up to 25 August.
Mary, known as Santa Marija, the festa par excellence.
Several hundreds visited the exhibition and the archives during the
This year the National Archives (Gozo) in conjunction with
fortnight that it was on.
the Friends of the National Archives held a special exhibition as an
added attraction to the thousands that visit Gozo at the time, The exhibition consisted of a collection of one hundred guide books
related somehow to the islands of Gozo and Comino. The idea of the exhibition was of Max Farrugia, Chairman of the
Friends Committee, who put his collection of guide books at the Archives disposal. CIther guide books were provided by the Public
Library Gozo, courtesy of George Borg, Senior Assistant Librarian. Pride of place was taken by the original copy of jean Quintin
D'Autun, /nsu/ae Me//.toe Descri.Pti.o a guide to Malta and Gozo published in Lyons in 1536 from the collection of the Public Library
Gozo. Abbe jean Quintin was born in Autun on 20 january 1500,
ln his twenties, after being ordained priest, he joined the Order of the Knights Hospitallers of Saint john. He was in Malta in I 530 some
months before the arrival of the first Grandmaster and it was at that time that he began taking notes for this guide book that was to help give future Knights an idea of the islands that Emperor Charles V had donated to the Order. jean Quintin died in Paris on 9 April 1561. Other exhibits included George Percy Badger, DescrJ.PtJ.on of Mo/ta and Gozo ( 1838); a copy of the earliest illustrated guide book, j.E. Gatt, Guf.de to Gozo (1937) that by Edgar G. Montanaro, On
the trail of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in the island of Gozo ( 1950) and the six guide books to as many villages published
Mr Anthony Borg (third from right), representing the Honorable
Giovanna Debono, Minister for Gozo, being shown round the Guide Books Exhibition; with (from left to right) George Borg, Senior Assistant Librarian, Gozo; Mr Anthony Attard; Mr Max Farrugia, Chairman, Friends of the National Archives; Magistrate
joseph Cassar, Chairperson, National Archives Council; joseph Bezzina, the Assistant National Archivist; Charles I. Farrugia, National Archivist; and Chev joe M. Attard.
by joseph Bezzina, the assistant National Archivist, The /ast of thi.s
The Citadel I the Crown of Gozo The Gozo Gtadel will have its own Master and Conservation Plan that forms the basis of all future interventions on this historical
for the year 2007 would be related to the Gozo Citadel. This year the exhibition is being sponsored by HSBC (Gozo).
site. Funding has been recently secured under the EEA Financial
Gozo has been inhabited by humans for the last 7000 years and,
Mechanisms with the Ministry for Gozo already having set up a
it is possible, that the Citadel has been the main centre of activity
working group to formulate the necessary tender for the carrying
since early times. Its position together with its covering of red top
out of the required studies. The project was launched on 10 May
soil made it an ideal temple site but successive generations wiped
2007 during a press conference by the Honorable Giovanna
away any remains. The present buildings and fortiflcations date to
Debono, Minister for Gozo at the Citadel, By a lucky coincidence,
late medieval and early modern times. The Gozo Citadel, it was
the National Archives Gozo section had planned some months back
affirmed by Minister Debono, is important both as a heritage site, as
that the exhibition on the occasion of the Archives Awareness Week
well as a tourist attraction.
ENEE!! i THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES NEWSLETTEB
Archaeology and the National Archives' by Dr. Anton Bugeja By its very nature, archaeological excavations are destructive to
with an attentive eye to such related subjects as toponomy, persons
the context of the evidence they uncover. Like discussions related
and land disputes may provide additional knowledge and background
to the study and preservation of antiquities, if the work done goes
to the subject under study.
unrecorded or made publicly known, an opportunity to foster knowledge would be irretrievably lost.
In view of the above, the records and documents created during
In the CSG0l and CSG8l subseries, the organisation and referencing of the files is indicative of the evolution of archaeological
management in Malta. For the period prior to the establishment
anexcavation(orrelatedtoplanstoexploreorprotectarchaeological
of the Museum Department, files are found spread under many
remains) become the only way by which future generations will have
categories including (amongst others) the Lieutenant Government,
an opportunity to know what happened, what was found on the site
Police, Gozo, Education and Works department sections. The picture
and how it was found,
provided is that archaeology appears to have been dependent on the initiatives taken by each of these departments. With the establishment
Although records from explorations and excavations are rare at the National Archives (NAM), for anyone interested in the history
of the Museum Department flles become concentrated under the
of archaeological research, development of archaeological sites
Miscellaneous section, slowly gathering under a separate section
and preservation of antiquities in Malta, the documents preserved
reserved for the Curator (of the Museum Department) as the years
in this archive provide an indispensable tool. Together with the
went by.
Petitions to Government (CSG02), the Departmental files (CSG0 I ) provide the main bulk of material that can be used to study Maltese
Other documents in the CSG fonds are also of interest although to a lesser degree. The CSG03 and CSGO9 subseries may prove
archaeology. Few and far between before 1881, government
useful, with the Schedules of Service of Government Employees
files (CSG01 ) become more frequent following the impact of the
(CSG45) providing a practical biographical resource.
discovery of the Rabat Roman Domus and continue to be found until the year 1921 at the NAM, Indeed, in matters related to the
Correspondence to (GOV I ) and from (GOV 2) the Colonial Office may be found in the series commonly referred to as the `Dispatches'. Here most references encountered are related to
study and preservation of antiquities, a glance at the yearly number
of files related to archaeology reveals the impact events in the early
proposals to preserve and survey the Maltese megalithic remains,
1880s had on government policy. For the years following the grant
but mention of an unsuccessful plan to survey all the cartruts on
of selfgovernment to the Maltese in 1921, the whereabouts of
the islands and correspondence related to the 1910 Antiquities Law
the documents becomes problematic. It is rare to encounter a file
makes interesting reading.
related to archaeology in equivalent fonds for the 1920s, but the
Documents coming from the Public Works Department are
occasional file for the 1930s may be found at the National Museum
another important resource of information. In relevant pages,
of Archaeology, where a more complete series of files is at present
the Public Works Reference Books (PWD 66 through PWD 136)
stored in cabinets according to year for the early postWorld War 11
period. For the following years, files appear to be preserved at the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage2. For files up to the year 1921, a similar situation affects the
provide indispensable information in case of missing files. Initials after
each entry often become useful to identify the persons making the
relevant comments in cases where signatures entered in the CSG fonds are undecipherable, With a neater handwriting throughout, the
Petitions to Government (CSG02). The files preserved at the NAM can be used to obtain information and insight on the relationship
between people and the emerging archaeological practices on the islands. Salvu Mallia's work in the 1970s related to Father Magri's
contribution to Archaeology3 was a pioneering work while Daphne Caruana Galizia used her family's original copies of petitions for her
thesis when she assessed the contribution made by Antonio Annetto Caruana to the study and preservation of antiquities4. Various lout letters' (CSG04) should be useful and it is wise to
consult this material when a reference is made to it, as rarely they
provide unexpected decisions not recorded elsewhere. Index registers for the government files (CSG81 ) and petitions
(CSG83) are a useful browsing tool when document preservation allows them to be consulted. These may contain the only information
A photograph of f]agar Qim by Captain Lyons
in cases of lost files (CSG01 and CSG02 respectively). Researching
(1870) NAM PHO 1835
Discovery of a Roman Pavement at the Santo Spirito Hospital NAN CSG0 I 12637/ 1882 = ,.,, <.< ,,,,,.. ~,,<=c< ,2,;=`c,,(,,~ ,< ,,,, ',
zZ;:??
•, .i,,, ; ZZ{ `, , : ,.,,,, r ,,,, : ,<r:f ..,. :Z:9 == ' : ) ,,,,,,..,, < . { EI
I,,` ; ,,.,,, `,/of€, ~4:,, I .,,, : .,,, ;I ,,,.
Jfl271/". Gifdrb /; ysch.rfut~`d
: ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, c,,,=.<:,c= ` ` ,, ;,,,,,,, `~,:, i,& `~ ct , <,,r£+ :,<tr,^,,.,,.,, <,, a,ri.. <.,,, ',, ` , ', ` ,` ,,,
i
er c (` irf ,
' A t` "t
T:#/f'
• y a, ,^4 : , I
7
'.'`',.''`'.'£i:~',.r.< .*' :.,;;7 fz<<: ,^rr..r'.~. zedzr
,J., ; ,),. i ,,,,,,1 E=
I/',.~c+~&cc:,,,,,;,,,,Ofz,,,i',rf::.:;,.~<,±,~,,,,.,,~,,., E=
PW series could also be used where illegible entries are encountered
Delattre with Magri go a long way to prove this point. A few words
elsewhere. Rarely as in what appears to be the earliest reference to
however are appropriate on material in local and foreign collections
megalithic remains at the Tarxien Temples (PWD 86 folio 202), they
that complements fonds present at the NAM. When viewed with
provide the only reference to the subject. For the problematic period
documents of the Colonial Office, now preserved at the National
following 1921 (see above), files of the Public Works Department
Archives at Kew (London), information contained in the dispatches
(MPW, PW) become very useful particularly as the archives have
(GOV I and 2) can be interpreted in a wider perspective. Indeed,
produced various indexes available to researchers. Likewise letter
the archaeological value of the documents formerly belonging to
books of this department (PW 189 to PW365) provide material
the Colonial Office has been acknowledged for some months in the
where the CSG fonds are lacking. Although only a few Public Works
website of this institution8. Plans and sketches referred to in files at
dcx:uments are here being referred to, the other documents should
NAM may be consulted at the Project House of the Public Works
also be consulted.
Together with the above, other fonds can be consulted with benefit. These include the GMR (General Miscellaneous Reports and the CUS (Customs including arrival and departures) fonds.
Department in Floriana. A copy or resume of the most important
entries from files related to the Museum Department together with
several folders of correspondence are preserved at the National Museum of Archaeology. Although they have been organised by
A few months ago a miscellaneous collection of documents of
the present author, work still remains to be done to catalogue fully
archaeological interest was acquired by the NAM, They are now
this important collections. On the other hand, a copy of the letters
provisionally referred to as the `S' fond after being catalogued by
relating to archaeology in the CSG01 fonds exchanged by Caruana
Professor George Camilleri. An inventory of items on display at the
as Librarian may still be consulted in the relevant letter books at the
newly established Museum, financial accounts, and other material
National Library in Malta9.
related to the Museum Department should serve as a useful resource '`
for anyone interested in the subject. When further conservation work is done on these documents, it is the intention of the NAM to make them available for consultation to the public. The NAM also contains a useful library of published documents
that could be utilised to provide further information. The Malta Blue
1,"\, q! L,*
\
T;'~.:, a; xp
Books can be used to obtain information on Government employees and financial estimates of projects. The Malta Government Gazette may be consulted for the same reasons, with the electoral lists proving
useful to trace person movement. Other sections in the Government
Gazette should not be overlooked as they are important to trace dates of appointment of key persons in archaeology, calls for tenders
and government notices. The Annual Reports of the Museum Department are also found in this publication. On the other hand, the
]i: +. `..ndriiir._p.nsFFFTT"IJ:*alffi A plan of Borg IImramma traced by Fr Emanuel Magri NAN CSG022819/ 1905
Debates of the Council of Government and the Legislative Assembly
provide the background or the consequence of the discussions and correspondence found recorded in the CSG01 subseries.
Needless to say, research for material related to archaeology
I. Dedicated to joseph Attard Tabone, who was the first to encourage me to take up research at the National Archives, 2. Personal communication C. Michelle Buhagiar, Superintendence of Cultural
Her,tage. 3. S. Mallia 1985. Fr. Manwel Magrl's Contribution to the Conservation of Malta's
does not stop at the NAM, but should continue in other collections local and abroad, public and private. Giving a list of these goes
beyond the scope of this article and it would limit the creativity of
researchers, who are encouraged to discover and recover collections that are likely to answer their specific questions. Seminal work done
by Attard Tabone on Traveller's accounts and the Gozo Stone Grcle5, the project undertaken by Vella and Pessina to publish the
Archaeological Heritage, Me``to H`storico Vol. IX No. 2, 145170. 4. D. Caruana Gal.iz.ia 1997. Antonio Annetto Coruono: the Incidental Archc]eologist.
Unpublished B.A. (Hons.) dissertation, Unlversity of Malta.
5. I. Attard Tabone 1999. The Gozo Stone Circle rediscovered. In Mifsud, A. and
Savona Ventura, C. (eds.) Facets or Mo`tese Prehtstory. Prehlstonc Society of Malta' 6, A. Pess.ina and NI.C. Vella 2005. Lulgl Morlc] ugolini. An ltolion Archc]eologlst in
Mo`to. Malta, Midsea Books.
7. I. M. Briffa 2005. New light on Fr Magri's exploration of the hypogeum. Mo`to Archc]eologicol Review 6, 41 46.
photographs and documents of Luigi Maria Ugolini6 and the retrieval
8. http:/^^^M^r.nationalarchives,gov,uk/catalogue/rdleaflet.aspsLeafletlD = 40 I &j = I
by Briffa of correspondence exchanged between Wallis Budge7 and
9. Use of these letter books may be observed in c. Sagona 2002. The Archoeo`ogy orpunic Mc]`to. Ancient Near Eastern Studies Supplement 9. Leuven, Peeters
EDUCATION DAY 24 October 2007 For this year's Education Day, students from different schools who are studying History as an optional subject have been invited to spend a whole day at the Archives. The participating schools are: Maria Regina GjL, San Anton, St. Aloysius College, St, Michael & St. Theresa GjL,
The theme for discussion is `The Development of the Grand Harbour facilities'.
Students from Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary School have been roped in to help prepare for these activities such as the Exhibition about the Grand Harbour (see photos above). These older students will share their research with the participants and help them to take part in workshops where primary source material will be discussed.
The main speakers during the oneday event will be: Mr joe Abela, Mr Manuel Magro Conti and
Prof. Charles Savona Ventura, Pet t diifea I. ^ .f.#{,r`rd+EERE +`
E=EEEEii=i=_==RE=±E±E=E= National Archives Annual Public Lecture Portc] Rec]le c]nd its Environs
The lecture will be delivered by Architect Michael Elul
25 October 2007 6.30P.in. Michael Ellul is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society of London and holds a
degree in Architecture and Civil Engineering ( 1952) and a postgraduate diploma
in Architectural Restoration from the University of Rome ( I 967). Appointed Chief architect in 1979, Ellul was responsible for all restoration projects in government historical buildings
including Verdala Palace, Vilhena Palace Mdina, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Mediterranean Conference Centre. His many publications include `Heritage of an lsland' (1975), `Fort St Elmo A brief History' (1988) and History on Marble (1998) a book on Maltese architecture and
many scholarly papers in local and foreign journals. Ellul has been President of the Friends of the
Cathedral Museum since 1992, He was also the first person in charge of government public records in the 1970s and has served on a number of National Archives Advisory Committees. Mr Ellul was awarded the Midalja GhallQadi tarRepubblika in 1995 for his contribution to the historical
research on Architecture in Malta and to the setting up of the National Archives.
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