The National Archives of Malta

14/09/2026

Bdiet ġimgħa eċċitanti ta’ skoperta! Bdejna workshop ta’ ġimgħa dwar il-paleografija u d-diplomatika li għandu jwassal lill-parteċipanti biex jinvolvu ruħhom direttament ma’ dokumenti storiċi oriġinali u jiżviluppaw il-ħiliet meħtieġa biex jaqraw, jinterpretaw u jittraskrivu sorsi arkivistiċi. Permezz ta’ prattika gwidata bl-użu ta’ materjal minn diversi fonds arkivistiċi, il-parteċipanti se jiksbu għarfien siewi dwar il-metodi użati mill-arkivisti, ir-riċerkaturi u l-istoriċi. Qed norganizzaw dan il-workshop flimkien mad-Dipartiment tal-Klassiċi u l-Arkeoloġija u d-Dipartiment tax-Xjenzi tal-Librerija, l-Informazzjoni u l-Arkivji tal-Università ta’ Malta, bl-appoġġ tal-Arkivji Djoċesani ta’ Malta u l-Arkivji tal-Katidral Metropolitan.

An exciting week of discovery started today! Our week-long, hands-on workshop in palaeography and diplomatics will allow participants to engage directly with original historical documents and develop the skills needed to read, interpret, and transcribe archival sources. Through guided practice using material from various archival fonds, participants will gain valuable insight into the methods used by archivists, researchers and historians. We are organising this workshop together with the Department of Classics and Archaeology and the Department of Library, Information and Archive Sciences of the University of Malta, with the support of the Diocesan Archives of Malta and the Archives of the Metropolitan Cathedral.

11/09/2026

Ospitajna b’suċċess il-workshop Fragments Across Borders: Reconstructing the Histories of Military Orders through Dispersed Archives and Unexplored Collections. Akkademiċi, riċerkaturi u professjonisti fil-qasam tal-wirt kulturali ġew flimkien u ħadu sehem f’diskussjoni stimulanti dwar il-wirt dokumentarju frammentat tal-ordnijiet militari-reliġjużi.
Bit-tribunali tal-Kavallieri ta’ San Ġwann bħala punt ta’ tluq, esplorajna kif rekords imxerrda, kollezzjonijiet li ma ngħatawx biżżejjed attenzjoni, u traċċi arkivistiċi li għadhom ma ġewx studjati jistgħu jiftħu toroq ġodda għar-riċerka. Id-diskussjonijiet enfasizzaw l-importanza li jerġgħu jingħaqdu frammenti ppreservati f’repożitorji, istituzzjonijiet u komunitajiet differenti sabiex jiġu rkuprati stejjer aktar għanja u aktar sfumati.
Nirringrazzjaw lill-organizzaturi Emanuel Buttigieg u Valeria Vanesio, kif ukoll lill-parteċipanti kollha, talli għamlu dan il-workshop skambju hekk sinifikanti u impenjattiv. Avvenimenti bħal dawn jerġgħu jaffermaw ir-rwol vitali tal-arkivji bħala postijiet ta’ skoperta, kollaborazzjoni u memorja—fejn anke frammenti mxerrda jistgħu jgħinuna nibnu mill-ġdid l-istorji komuni tagħna.


We have hosted successfully workshop Fragments Across Borders: Reconstructing the Histories of Military Orders through Dispersed Archives and Unexplored Collections. Scholars, researchers, and heritage professionals came together and engaged in a stimulating discussion on the fragmented documentary legacy of military-religious orders.
Using the tribunals of the Knights of St John as a point of departure, the event explored how dispersed records, overlooked collections, and underexamined archival traces can open new pathways for research. Discussions highlighted the importance of reconnecting fragments preserved across different repositories, institutions, and communities to recover richer and more nuanced histories.
We thank the organisers Emanuel Buttigieg and Valeria Vanesio and all participants for making this workshop such a meaningful and engaging exchange. Events like this reaffirm the vital role of archives as places of discovery, collaboration, and memory—where even scattered fragments can help us reconstruct shared histories.

10/09/2026

10/09/2026

Kif nistgħu nerġgħu nibnu l-istejjer meta d-dokumenti li jirrakkontawhom ikunu mxerrda f’pajjiżi, istituzzjonijiet u żmien differenti?
Nhar il-Ġimgħa 11 ta’ Settembru ser nospitaw il-workshop “Fragments Across Borders: Reconstructing the Histories of Military Orders through Dispersed Archives and Unexplored Collections”. Ser niddiksutu kif arkivji frammentati, dokumentazzjoni minsija, u monumenti mwarrba jistgħu jiftħu toroq ġodda għar-riċerka dwar l-ordnijiet militari-reliġjużi.
Bl-użu tad-dokumenti tat-tribunali tal-Kavallieri ta’ San Ġwann bħala studju ta’ każ ewlieni, ser neżaminaw kif rekords mxerrda jistgħu jinġabru flimkien biex jikxfu stejjer istituzzjonali, komunitarji u transreġjonali moħbija s’issa.
Bħala parti mid-Disa’ Konferenza Internazzjonali dwar l-Ordnijiet Militari, organizzata minn Emanuel Buttigieg u Valeria Vanesio, dan il-workshop għandu jgħin lill-parteċipanti jikkonsidraw l-frammentazzjoni arkivistika mhux bħala ostaklu, iżda bħala opportunità biex jiġu rkuprati stejjer li qed jistennew li jiġu skoperti mill-ġdid.


How do we reconstruct histories when the records that tell them have been scattered across borders, institutions, and time?
On Friday 11 September we are hosting the workshop “Fragments Across Borders: Reconstructing the Histories of Military Orders through Dispersed Archives and Unexplored Collections”. We shall explore how fragmented archives, forgotten documentation, and overlooked monuments can open new paths for research into military-religious orders.
Using the records of tribunals of the Knights of St John as a key case study, we shall examine how dispersed records can be brought together to reveal hidden institutional, community, and transregional histories.
Part of the IX International Military Orders Conference organised by Emanuel Buttigieg and Valeria Vanesio, this workshop invites participants to rethink archival fragmentation not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity to recover stories waiting to be rediscovered.

09/09/2026

09/09/2026

Kellna l-pjaċir nilqgħu fostna lill-Arċipriet Kozma Popovski u lill-Prof. Yavor Ivanov mill-Bulgarija fl-Arkivji Nazzjonali ta’ Malta waqt żjara ta’ riċerka f’Malta. Jinsabu fostna biex jesploraw l-arkivji u l-libreriji ta’ Malta, b’enfasi partikolari fuq manuskritti Slavoniċi tal-Knisja l-Qadima, incunabula (kotba stampati bikrin) u dokumenti marbuta mal-istorja Bulgara u Mediterranja. Aħna nappoġġjaw kull riċerka li tqarreb il-kulturi lejn xulxin u tenfasizza r-rikkezza tal-wirt dokumentarju ta’ Malta.

It was a pleasure to welcome Archpriest Kozma Popovski and Prof. Yavor Ivanov from Bulgaria to the National Archives of Malta during their research visit to Malta. They are exploring Malta’s archives and libraries, with a special focus on Old Church Slavonic manuscripts, incunabula and documents connected to Bulgarian and Mediterranean history. We support research that brings cultures closer together and highlights the richness of Malta’s documentary heritage.

07/09/2026

8 ta’ Settembru 1961. Il-monument tal-Assedju l-Kbir fil-festa tal-Vitorja 65 sena ilu.

8 September 1961. The Great Siege Memorial during Victory Day 65 years ago.

07/09/2026

Ħarsa lejn il-ħajja tal-imgħoddi: madwar 60 sena ilu. Il-jiem tal-festa kienu mimlija b’dehriet, ħsejjes u togħmiet familjari — fosthom l-imqaret u l-qubbajt. Aktar minn sempliċi ħelu tradizzjonali, dawn kienu jagħmlu parti mill-atmosfera tal-festa, u jġibu lin-nies flimkien f’ċelebrazzjoni, memorja u spirtu komunitarju. Ritratt: Kollezzjoni Guido Stilon

A glimpse of the past: around 60 years ago, feast days were filled with familiar sights, sounds, and flavours — including imqaret (deep-fried pastries filled with spiced dates) and nougat. More than simple treats, these traditional sweets formed part of the festive atmosphere, bringing people together in celebration, memory, and community spirit. Photo: Guido Stilon Collection

04/09/2026

Ir-rapport annwali tagħna għas-sena 2025.

Our annual report for the year 2025.

Dive into our extensive resources on the topic that interests you. It's like a masterclass to be explored at your own pace.

04/09/2026

Ftit wara l-Indipendenza, il-Gvern Malti beda jfassal Land Development Plan. Fost dawk involuti kien hemm T.E. Sieczkowzki, konsulent fl-ippjanar mibgħut min-Nazzjonijiet Uniti. Fl-1966, il-Malta Ornithological Society ipproponiet il-ħolqien ta’ santwarju għall-għasafar fl-Għadira — sejħa bikrija biex jitħares wieħed mill-ħabitats naturali importanti ta’ Malta. Dan l-iskizz, ippreservat fl-Arkivji Nazzjonali flimkien ma’ nota mħejjija minn Sieczkowzki għall-Gvernatur Ġenerali f’Settembru 1967, jaqbad mument meta l-ippjanar, l-għarfien ambjentali u l-iżvilupp nazzjonali ġew flimkien.

Shortly after Independence, the Maltese Government started drafting a new Land Development Plan. Among those involved was T.E. Sieczkowzki, a planning consultant sent by the United Nations. In 1966, the Malta Ornithological Society proposed the creation of a bird sanctuary at Għadira — an early call to protect one of Malta’s important natural habitats. This sketch, preserved at the National Archives with a note prepared by Sieczkowzki for the Governor-General in September 1967, captures a moment when planning, environmental awareness, and national development came together.

Ref: MT NAM GGO-49/1967