This collection was donated to the University of Malta Library on the initiative of Mr Paul P. Borg author of the book, “Fejjaqtni int: Rużar Briffa u jien”.
The official presentation of these documents was conducted in the presence of the Director of UM Library, Mr Kevin Joseph Ellul, Manager for Special Collections, Ms Antida Mizzi, and UM Rector, Prof. Alfred J. Vella, together with members of the Briffa family.
“The importance of preserving such documents is of course in keeping the legacy alive, but these will also be useful for lecturers to use in teaching, for students and researchers willing to undertake research in Maltese literature and medical history and also to the general public who will be able to closely observe this cultural treasure”, said Mr Ellul.
Mr Paul P. Borg presented a copy of his book to UM Rector, Prof. Alfred J. Vella, who proceeded to thank him and Rużar Briffa's family for their dedication to preserving such an important piece of heritage.
Briffa, who was not just known as the poet of simplicity, but was also a famed dermatologist, started teaching in elementary schools before which he began his studies in medicine at the University of Malta. He specialised in dermatology and in 1932 became a specialist in skin diseases. The aesthetic concern of beautifying suffering patients through his work emerged frequently in his literary work, so much so that he gained the reputation of being the ‘Poet of Beauty’ by some of his peers. In 1931, together with Ġużè Bonnici, he founded the Għaqda tal-Malti Università, which is active to date. He died in 1963, and his full biography was released in 1984 by Prof. Oliver Friggieri.
