Gozitan public events through news photography : 1945-2015

Abstract

Several authors reviewed the history of photography in the Maltese islands since its inception, to the pre-World War II period. However, little has been published about post World War II Gozo. Apart from the history of photography in Gozo between 1945 and 2015, as well as the literature that so far was published both locally and abroad, this dissertation concentrates on other subjects related to the science of photography. It examines the state of the photographic archives on the island vis-a-vis a selection of photographic archives in Malta and abroad. By photographic archives one understands the photographic collection in state archives, church owned archives, band club archives and others owned by non governmental organizations. Moreover, this dissertation examines the archival materials utilised by the majority of photographers that photographed gozitan events in the period studied, as well as their actual condition. Following interviews with the collections’ custodians, this dissertation deals also with the future of every archive. One cannot delve into photographic archives without discussing the preservation programme that they should follow. Various measures are recommended for the best preservation of photographic collections. Some are equal for general archives, whilst others concern specific collections. Last but not least, this dissertation recommends in its conclusion what has to be done in order to implement a virtual photographic archive for Gozo, since paper based photographic archives, we have now progressed to digital ones. It is presumed that eventually, through a memorandum of cooperation between all stake-holders Gozo will one day possess a global online photographic collection.