| CODE | HST1051 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Archives in Malta | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 2 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | History | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit will give an overview of the main archival depositories in Malta. Furthermore it shall highlight the main collections or series of selected archives and how these can be used to explore the workings and functioning of past societies and the extent to which the limited confines of the archives can help project broader processes. Since due to the vicissitudes of time archives often have missing information in their collections, students will be made aware of these pitfalls and of the need to consider them when making a historical evaluation. The role of the archivist in keeping, preserving or even discarding material from the archives will also be discussed in order to highlight the importance of the work of the archivist in preserving a nation’s identity or its history. It shall also show how lack of particular documents may at times deliberately or implicitly limit, shape, or otherwise structure our understanding of the past. Site visits to selected archives will enhance the students’ experience and introduce them to the physical space and its workings. Study-Unit Aims: The aim of this study-unit is to provide participants with an understanding of how archives in Malta developed throughout the years and how they may be accessed for historical investigation. Furthermore it shall show how archives are places where memory is stored. When using sources from these institutions of social memory users may be said to go through a process of remembering, which projects and brings to life past experiences - even if at times imperfectly so. This study-unit will inform students how such processes involve a mix of materials, which at times may be found in an organized manner and abundant, while at other times could be sparse and stored in a disorganized way. It shall also underscore the benefits and pitfalls of using archival sources for qualitative and quantitative research. The study unit will also define the role of the archivist, differentiate between the different types of manuscripts deposited in an archive, and provide participants with a sound understanding of the collections held in local archives, namely, The National Library, The National Archives, The Notarial Archives and Ecclesiastical Archives (Cathedral Archives, Curia Archives and Parish Archives). Wherever possible, site-visits will be organized so that students become familiar with the different procedures required by each institution when requesting to use these sources. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • demonstrate an understanding of how archives develop; • show a knowledge of the different collections held in the local archives; • explain the importance of visiting and accessing local archives for historical research; • illustrate the use of primary sources for historical research and the value of preserving them. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • identify which archival sources may be consulted to address specific research areas of enquiry; • show an awareness of the pitfalls of using archival sources for scientific investigation; • carry out basic independent research. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: • J. Abela ‘Notarial Manuscripts: Some interesting insights on their composition’ in Arkivju, Journal of the National Archives of Malta, 2016. • G. Gatt, ‘Gli archivi di Malta durante il periodo della occupazione francese e i primi anni della dominazione inglese’, Archivio Storico di Malta, ix, 4, 1938. • A. Mifsud, ‘Appunti sugli archivi di Malta’, Archivum Melitense, ix, 1912-13, 9-67; • C. Farrugia, L-Arkivji ta’ Malta, (Malta, 2006). • W. Zammit, New Light on the Archive of the Inquisition in Malta during French Rule 1798–1800’ in 60th Anniversary of the Malta Historical Society: A Commemoration (J.F. Grima ed.), (Malta, 2010), 275–94. Supplementary Readings: • A. Bonnici, ‘Malta dai manoscritti della Stanza Storica dell’archivio della Congregazione della Fede’, Melita Historica, xiii, 3, 2002, 229-38. • H.P. Scicluna, Actes et Documents relatifs à l’Historie de l’Occupation Française de Malte 1798–1800, et à la Fête du 14 Juillet 1798 à Malte, Third Edition, Malta. • S. Fiorini, (ed.), Documentary Sources of Maltese History, Part 1, Notarial Documents, No.1, Notary Giacomo Zabbara: R494/1(I) 1486-1488, (Malta, 1996). • G. Wettinger, Place-names of the Maltese Islands ca 1300-1800, (Malta, 2000). • M. Fsadni, Esperjenzi ta’ Kittieb, (Malta, 1994). |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | This study-unit is solely offered to Undergraduate Diploma in Maltese History in Context students. | ||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Fieldwork | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Joan Abela |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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