The notarial archives in Malta : administrative and archival history

Abstract

The main scope of this research is to analyse the archival connections between the different categories of notarial volumes which are preserved at the two repositories of the Notarial Archives in Valletta: Mikiel Anton Vassalli Street, and the one at St Paul’s and St Christopher Street. The research will also intend to address the custodial and administrative history of notarial records in Malta from an archival perspective, by considering the main laws and regulations, from the Hospitaller to the British period, which have changed and influenced the creation, organisation, and preservation of notarial documents, as well as the role of the notary in Malta. Along with other considerations relating to access policy, and the obtaining of archival information on the fonds, this will help provide a better understanding of the relevant archival and legal frameworks, which will help contribute to improve accessibility of the documents which are housed at the two abovementioned repositories. The end-result of the research will consist of a general archival description of the fonds, the first archival guide to notarial records at fond level of its kind in Malta.