Salvate nos : saving the notarial archives

Abstract

I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this publication, aimed at informing the public about the restoration project at the Notarial Archives, in Valletta. The project, part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and led by the Office of the Notary to Government, might be seen as just a new lease of life to two buildings, that of the Notarial Archives itself and the adjacent building. Yet the result is much more than that. The restoration itself has been a veritable experience and the result will engage all stakeholders on so many levels. These two buildings, now linked to each other, will be transformed into a centre of excellence of historical research, conservation and scientific investigation. This space shall unequivocally be a real contribution to understanding who we are as a nation, and to explore the functioning of the fabric of our society. Through this project over 20,000 notarial manuscripts and documents of rich historical and social value will not only be preserved professionally, but will also be made even more accessible to researchers, scholars, enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in getting a peek at Malta through the ages. The Restoration Directorate and the project contractors have worked diligently and carefully mastered the new repository, which sees the shelving of volumes in an innovative and professional manner and in the most adequate environment. Apart from establishing the first museum of legal documents, the project has also catered for the future set-up of a state-of-the-art paper conservation laboratory and research centre which will be fully accessible. We envisage that apart from the Maltese community, the showcased collection will also attract cultural tourists to this new destination, adding another educational stop to our baroque city. Research amenities including an updated reading room and lecturing spaces will constitute an integral part in the transformation of this building into the hub it deserves to be. I am confident that such facilities will pave the way for the Notarial Archives to establish itself as an international benchmark of archival research, and the preservation and conservation of paper heritage. In closing I would like to thank all involved, including my predecessors, the Office of the Permanent Secretary, the Chief Notary to Government and his staff, the Notarial Archives Foundation, the Restoration Directorate and all contractors for their dedication and painstaking work. It is through their work that we are giving a new lease of life to this national treasure and in so doing also giving the deserved visibility and respect to the notarial profession as an essential player in our communities, and a silent albeit critical contributor to the effective functioning of our nation state.