The National Archives has one of the largest archival collections in Malta, spanning from the 1530s up to the current day. The National Archives aim to preserve the collective memory of the Maltese nation through the protection and accessibility of all public archives regulated by the Archives Act. https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/13660 2026-06-25T17:40:01Z 2026-06-25T17:40:01Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/99122 2024-04-24T08:13:13Z 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Exiles, migratory flows and solidarity : unlock the digital treasures Abstract: Catalogue of an exhibition showing 47 different digital documents from 22 archives from 9 countries to tell micro-stories that shaped Europe. The exhibition covers work-related migration, war-related migration and political uprising, turmoil and persecution. When the Cold War ended in late 1991, many people thought, or at least hoped, that the world would be blessed with a new era of peace and stability. The American political scientist Francis Fukuyama summed this feeling up the following year in his highly influential book, The End of History and the Last Man. He argued that the collapse of the Soviet Union marked the final key victory of the western model of liberal democracy, and that henceforth the world would move towards an eventual state of freedom, progress and growth. He admitted that challenges to this model would still present themselves from time to time, but that inevitably western-style democracy would prevail. Looking back at that time from the vantage point of the early 2020s, it is perhaps hard to be so confident that Fukuyama’s vision will hold true. Indeed, some may argue that the relative stability of the 1990s was a mere temporary blip in world affairs. Today the world situation seems to be characterised with what could be regarded as the same old troubles: financial crisis, ideological confrontation, and war. Alongside this has been a move back towards authoritarianism, nationalism, and economic protectionism. And added to the mix has been the onset of a major pandemic which has had the power to bring the world to a standstill. None of these things are new to history, a fact that serves to suggest that, far from being on a clear linear path towards utopia, the world is instead destined to experience a never-ending series of cyclical historical events. For Europeans, one of the most important examples of such an event has been the recent upsurge in migration, both from within and outside the continent. Some of these migrants are looking to find work. Others are refugees or asylum seekers, anxious to escape from war zones and oppressive regimes. Fierce debates have flared up across Europe over how to best handle the migration crisis, and key questions have emerged. To what extent are people willing to accommodate those who have come to them in hope or in need? How far are societies prepared to go to show solidarity with oppressed and displaced people? How much value is given to the cultural diversity that results from migratory movement across national borders? This exhibition seeks to examine this highly topical issue from a historical perspective. It gathers together 47 key documents in order to present a series of historical stories that illustrate the themes at hand. Through them we will come across terminology which sadly remains all too familiar from recent European and international history; words and phrases such as repression, persecution, political exile, refugee camps, racism, antisemitism, ethnic cleansing, and genocide. As will be seen, many of the documents do indeed highlight acts uncovering the darker side of human nature. But at the same time there are aspects of many of them which allow us to step back into the light. As such, terms such as empathy, tolerance, selflessness, charity, and solidarity also have a place in the stories being told. Several of them also underline the positive contribution that immigrants made to societies in which they settled. The documents are divided into three main categories, or ‘pillars.’ The first considers work-related migration and encompasses stories which collectively address not just the movement of individuals and groups of individuals, but also the transfer of foreign expertise, much of which proved vital to the economic and cultural development of the countries concerned. The second pillar looks at war-related migration. As one might expect, there exists a wealth of documents dealing with this highly emotive topic. For this exhibition a selection has been made covering various types of conflicts, from rebellions and civil wars through to the world wars of the 20th century. The third pillar centres on documents dealing with some of the human costs associated with political uprising, turmoil and persecution. Again, there is a wide range of material, spanning several centuries. And, as is the case with the other two pillars, an emphasis is placed on teasing out the human side to the stories. Indeed, it is through the examination of contemporary source documents that one begins to approach the past at its most elementary level. In a majority of cases the sources relate to individuals or to a group of individuals, at least at some level. The selection also reflects the great variety of material that is available to be consulted in Europe’s archival collections. This includes, among other things, charters, edicts, census records, diaries, letters, diagrams, drawings, photographs, posters, reports, pamphlets, service records, dispatches, supplications, and speeches. By highlighting such original sources, it is hoped that the exhibition will serve to reflect UNESCO’s Universal Declaration on Archives, which states that archival repositories, ‘play an essential role in the development of societies by safeguarding and contributing to individual and community memory.’ The Declaration also emphasises that, ‘open access to archives enriches our knowledge of human society, promotes democracy, protects citizens’ rights and enhances the quality of life.’ The message is clear. Europe’s archives offer a rich heritage of material that is there for everyone to use, whether that be the original physical versions or through universally available digital copies. It is also hoped that those who see the exhibition may take the opportunity to view the present through the prism of the past. Perhaps lessons can finally be learned which would allow us to break free from the historical cycles of intolerance, fear, violence and persecution. Description: European Digital Treasures Exhibitions ; Exhibition 2. Coordination : National Archives of Norway and the International Centre for Archival Research: ICARUS ; in collaboration with Spanish State Archives, National Archives of Malta, Torre do Tombo (National Archives of Portugal), National Archives of Hungary and Munster Technology University, Cork (MTU) ; Historian: Barry Robertson

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/99121 2024-04-24T08:13:04Z 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The construction of Europe : history, memory and myth of Europeanness over 1000 years Abstract: Catalogue of an exhibition showing 47 different digital documents from 22 archives from 9 countries to tell micro-stories that shaped Europe. The exhibition covers work-related migration, war-related migration and political uprising, turmoil and persecution. This exhibition tells the story of Europe along with its construction as a concept, that has changed over time. Created and shaped by the people who lived there, it also provides a collective identity for its inhabitants. This exhibition, built on documents grouped into 4 ‘pillars’, examines the common history of Europe under the following headings. 1: The Spirit of Europe. Europe represents an intellectual heritage: steps, writings, life-works and trends in science, education and the arts, and their intellectual effects that go beyond the historical eras. 2: The Diversity of Europe. Europe has always been characterised by cultural, religious, ethnic and national diversity. A failure to recognise this has been the cause of many tragedies, crimes committed by Europeans against Europeans. 3: The Multiple Faces of Christianity. The history of Christianity in Europe, as it interacted with other religions and cultures, illustrates the diversity of beliefs that helped shape Europeanism. This story in itself can symbolize the diversity of European history as well: intolerance and tolerance, power or total rejection of power. 4: The Heritage of Enlightenment. The intellectual heritage of the Enlightenment is a Europe that is open and democratic, putting diversity at the heart of Europeanism. Europe is history, tradition, a collective memory. It is not indifferent to how we remember historical events, presenting the tragic moments as well. This exhibition would like to show such a construction of Europeanism that today anybody – regardless of birth, origin, nationality, religion – can identify with, taking her on and considering her own identities as part of Europeanism as well. The documents of the exhibition were collected and arranged side by side by the staff of archives of European countries, according to the aspects and topics that they considered as most important. Such a collective work can give an idea of what Europeans, this time archivists and historians, may think together about Europeanness. However, the selected documents do not only testify the history of Europe, but hopefully they also provide an opportunity for the visitor of the exhibition or the reader of the catalogue to create their own image of Europe and European history. Description: European Digital Treasures Exhibitions : Exhibition 1 Coordination : National Archives of Norway and the International Centre for Archival Research: ICARUS ; in collaboration with Spanish State Archives, National Archives of Malta, Torre do Tombo (National Archives of Portugal), National Archives of Hungary and Munster Technology University, Cork (MTU) ; Historian: György Majtényi

2022-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/51328 2020-02-16T06:09:54Z 2012-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: National Archives Malta : 2011 annual report Abstract: During 2010 a number of developments took place in the Maltese archives sector, or in areas which form part of the wider knowledge management or cultural sector. The salient developments were the following: • The setting up of a new Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences (MaKS) at the University of Malta; • The setting up of a Degree Level course in both librarianship and archives on a full time basis; • The coming into force of the Malta Libraries Act; • The second National Forum on Archives and the publication of the second State of Archives Report. The National Archives is represented on most of these new set ups as the National Archivist was appointed by the Hon Minister on the Faculty Board of MaKS, is also a member of the Board of Studies of the Department of Library, Information and Archive Sciences, and is exofficio member on the Malta Libraries Council. It was also a year characterized by active involvement of the National Archives in EU-funded projects, EU Experts' Group meetings and work related with the chairing of the Association of Commonwealth Archivists and Records Managers (ACARM). During the CITRA conference held in Toledo undersigned chaired the AGM of ACARM and proposed a resolution aimed at reviewing all the operation of ACARM and its governance instruments. The resolution was unanimously approved. The process is gaining momentum and it is hoped that a new ACARM constitution will be approved during the ICA Congress in Brisbane this year. [excerpt from the Foreword by Charles J. Farrugia]

2012-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/13668 2016-11-09T07:31:53Z 2014-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Report on the state of Maltese archives Abstract: The Report on the State of Maltese Archives is a requirement under article 15 (2) of the National Archives, Act 2005 (Cap. 477 of the Laws of Malta), which states that the National Archives Council, set up by article 14 of the same law “shall biannually convene a National Forum about the archives, to discuss the state of the archives generally after receiving a relative report to be drawn up by the Council.” This report aims to collate as much data as possible about the current state of archives in Malta.

2014-01-01T00:00:00Z