The Notarial Archives of Gozo : notarial records and their historical significance

Abstract

This research aims to explore the functions of the Notarial Archives of Gozo in serving the public. These archives not only preserve and protect notarial acts but also bring these documents to life as a window to the past. Through these notarial acts, we gain insights into historical social norms and economic trends. It is crucial for people to recognise the significance of such archives, not only for their legal value but also for their role in enhancing our understanding of history. By studying these documents, we uncover new knowledge about daily activities and uncover previously overlooked details, providing valuable information that unlocks new perspectives on the past. This research begins by outlining the history of the Notarial Archives in Malta, which is significant in the creation of an archive in Gozo. hen gaining a better understanding of the history such archive withholds, one would gain a better understanding of the valuable material that curates the archive, and how such documents that back centuries. This knowledge would then lead to the next part of the research, that is the description of the types of collections that were brought forward by the Notarial Archives Foundation. However, accessibility to these documents relies heavily on the professionalism of the archive's management, which will be discussed starting from the second chapter. This chapter will also cover the preservation methods and conservation practices used to protect these documents. Preservation alone does not ensure accessibility, so the following chapter will assess the archive's accessibility. It opens up with a description of the cataloguing processes and the overall services provided by the archive, supported by data gathered from questionnaires completed by archive users. This research is the concluded by an analysis that is given in the final chapter and recommendations that can be put forward in improving the services that the archive provides.