https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/11481 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:46:23 GMT 2026-04-08T12:46:23Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/144939 Title: An archival approach to the tribunal armamentorum and corsairing regulation between 1605 and 1798 Abstract: The Tribunal Armamentorum (TAR) was a tribunal founded in 1605 by Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt (1601-1622) to regulate corsairing in Malta and Gozo. It remained active until 1798 when it was abolished by the newly instituted French Government. The records and documents which make up the archive have attracted historical attention; however, the literature is lacking an investigation of the TAR as an institution in its own right. The aim of this dissertation is to provide a different perspective on this tribunal by focusing on its role as an archival creator. The research addresses three questions: how the TAR functioned as an administrative and judicial body; how these functions are reflected in its archive; the custodial history of the documents after the Order’s expulsion from Malta; archival gaps and rearrangements. Using a qualitative methodology grounded in documentary analysis and structured in three case studies, the study reconstructs the TAR’s administrative system across two centuries of legislative change. Central to this study is the analysis of four corpora of law and the current arrangement of this archive. The findings demonstrate that behind an expedition into the waters of Barbary and the Levant lay paper, production of records and bureaucratic density. As is reflected in the documentation, in conducting its functions the TAR made use of a wide range of instruments, ranging from petitions, licenses, reports, oaths and rulings. The TAR did not operate in a vacuum but in an integrated Mediterranean-wide multi-legal framework and evolving diplomatic networks. These complexities are reflected in the records and through litigations opened by individuals from a variety of different contexts. Malta-based corsairing in the early modern period is treated as an extension of ‘holy war’ against the enemies of Christendom. Behind this veneer lay fortunes, money, and a thirst for riches. Financial disputes were a unifying thread across its documentation. Within the TAR’s archive unfolds the enforcement of law, the livelihood of a state and its people, religion, and diplomacy. The dissertation makes several contributions. It provides an archival and institutional history of the TAR; sheds light on the history of the records after the abolishment of the tribunal, situates Maltese tribunals within Mediterranean legal and diplomatic history; highlights the archival connections between the TAR and dispersed repositories; and deepens understanding of how recordkeeping shaped early modern regulation. In a tangible manner are brought to the fore the consequences of historical ruptures on archives. This research enriches the history of corsairing, expands the study of Maltese early modern tribunals, and opens pathways for future investigations into related archives and institutions. Description: M.A.(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/144939 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143881 Title: Archiving theatrical performance : a focus on the accession and description of theatrical play documents Abstract: As a transient event, a theatrical performance is impossible to capture in its original form. Instead, only aspects of the performance may be captured: whether through preserving the material remains of the performance; or the functional documentation created to document the performance into photographic/videographic forms. Considering this, the author explores two prominent difficulties in the archiving of performance: Firstly, deciding which performance documents should be preserved; and secondly, how to organise and describe such documents in a manner that preserves the performance memory. This paper applies current research literature; case studies of the UM SPA Digital Archive and the UoB Theatre Archive; and a group interview with professionals who use and/or contribute to theatre archives – to develop guiding principles for the accession and description of theatre documents. The research demonstrates the importance of following the principles of respect des fonds and original order. Contrasting this, the research advocates for the use of computerised technologies in the development of non-traditional archiving models (including living archives) to authentically preserve the performance memory. Additionally, it illustrates the importance of strong archiving policies that standardise the accession, organisation, and description of theatrical documents – which is particularly lacking in the Maltese context. Moreover, it endorses collaboration between theatre makers and archivists to document and archive performance. The research concludes that theatre archives should utilise the guiding principle of collecting performance documentation that accounts for as many aspects of the performance memory as possible. This process must be adapted to the limitations of the archive. Finally, theatre documents must be organised in ways that link to both their originating performances and creators, using metadata description that can be adapted to the multitude of documentary formats and creators alike. Summarily, archiving practices must be adapted to the irregular nature of performance in order to authentically represent it. Description: M.A.(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143881 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143855 Title: Investigating appraisal at the National Archives of Malta : challenges and strategies Abstract: This dissertation investigates the archival appraisal practices at the National Archives of Malta, evaluating their effectiveness against international standards and methodologies, as well as national needs and archival traditions. Appraisal, as a critical archival function, determines the long-term value and retention of records within the national documentary heritage. Through a comparative framework, the study analyses appraisal models from Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia, countries selected for their mature archival systems and diverse legal and functional approaches and distinctive features that could offer valuable insights for Malta’s archival development. The research identifies Malta’s current appraisal system as primarily content and retention-based, with limited emphasis on digital readiness, functional analysis, or societal value. This reactive model is assessed against international practices, such as Canada’s macro-appraisal, the United Kingdom’s risk and value-based strategies, the United States of America’s lifecycle-driven methods, and Australia’s digitally integrated functional appraisal. The comparative analysis highlights significant gaps in digital governance, resource allocation, and strategic alignment within the Maltese context. Owing to the commitment and professionalism of its staff and management, the National Archives of Malta has registered several noteworthy positive outcomes. However, empirical evidence indicates that, while the current appraisal approach exhibits a degree of adaptability, it remains constrained by limited financial resources, inadequate storage capacity, and insufficient personnel. The study argues that integrating macro-appraisal principles and digital appraisal strategies could enhance transparency, accountability, and sustainability. Consequently, the dissertation proposes a dual set of recommendations: policylevel reforms to strengthen legislative and systemic foundations, and guidelinelevel measures to improve the consistency and implementation of appraisal practices. This study contributes to archival scholarship by contextualising international appraisal models within a small-state environment and by offering actionable insights to modernise archival governance in Malta. It aims to bridge theoretical frameworks and practical realities, ensuring that the National Archives of Malta can continue to safeguard the national memory in an increasingly digital and data-saturated era. Description: M.A.(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143855 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143853 Title: Issues relating to professional staffing in Maltese specialised libraries : an analysis Abstract: This research study delves into the staffing situation of special libraries in the Maltese islands. It focuses primarily on the extent of the professional staff population in such libraries. It analyses whether a lack of staff exists in this library category and compares the present situation with that reported a few years back in other studies, including the 2006 MaLIA report on Maltese libraries. The data obtained enables stakeholders and researchers to compare the findings with the situation back then and evaluate how special libraries are faring today. The study investigates the causes behind the extent of the present staff population in Maltese special libraries and the consequences this brings about. It also identifies other staffing issues in various special library categories, determines the most important skills and qualities expected in special librarians, and discusses how technology could assist library personnel and parent organisations in staffing and related issues. A qualitative approach was adopted, employing an inductive method of research through interviews with special librarians and entity managers and questionnaires distributed among library clients. The findings could help entity managers, library staff and researchers to gain the necessary knowledge and be able to assess their situation and find ways to maintain staff and address staffing issues at present and plan for the future. Description: M.A.(Melit.) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/143853 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z