Revamped library for notarial deeds

An initiative to preserve more than 6,000 notarial deeds, some of which date back to the 15th century, has reached an important stage as the Notarial Archives Resources Council yesterday inaugurated a revamped library to house these precious documents.

The deeds, most of which are written in Latin and Italian, are registrar copies of original notarial deeds that are kept at 2/3, Mikiel Anton Vassalli Street in Valletta. The copies, are an important point of reference for researchers because they had been meticulously and neatly re-written by hand.

The historical volumes are at 24, St Christopher Street, Valletta - where they had been gathering dust for so many years, but are now neatly placed on shelves.

The premises are still undergoing structural changes which have cost some Lm3,000 so far. Double that figure is budgeted for this year. Work is being carried out by government workers.

Chief Notary Cora Vella said 15 volumes that had gone missing had been recovered. Researchers had come across important documents such as the will of Dun Karm Psaila, the national poet.

Justice and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg, who inaugurated the revamped library yesterday, said the documents formed part of a national patrimony which was not just of interest to notaries and researchers.

The Notarial Archives Resources Council, made up of a group of historians, researchers, academics and professionals who took it upon themselves to preserve these precious documents and to support the work of the Chief Notary in preserving the notarial deeds, was officially presented yesterday. Chaired by Professor Godfrey Wettinger, the council's statute lays down that the council will "organise and promote the cultural and historical aspect of notarial archives in Malta".