Malta’s National Archives at a crossroads: A call to protect our collective memory

Jun 9, 2025

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As the world celebrates International Archives Day today, 9th June, Malta’s attention turns toward its own documentary legacy, one that is increasingly at risk. The Friends of the National Archives of Malta (FNAM), currently commemorating its 25th anniversary, has once again sounded the alarm: without immediate action, critical parts of our national heritage could be lost forever.

Archives are not merely depositories of old papers and forgotten relics. They are the heartbeat of a nation’s memory. In Malta, these documents span centuries of complex history, colonial rule, and cultural transformation. Yet, despite their incalculable value, the physical state of Malta’s archival infrastructure remains worryingly outdated.

The FNAM’s statement today is both a celebration and a plea. While acknowledging the importance of International Archives Day, the group emphasised the urgent need for the long-promised, state-of-the-art National Archives building. Without it, historical documentation continues to be housed in ageing, overcrowded facilities that pose a real threat to their preservation.

“It is not an option to keep losing historical documentation due to the existing conditions and lack of space,” said FNAM spokesperson Doris Zammit. She rightly points out that neglecting these archives is not just a logistical oversight – it is a cultural disservice.

The situation calls for more than admiration for the past. It requires concrete, funded policy decisions. Successive administrations have acknowledged the need for improved archival infrastructure, but as yet, these acknowledgments have not materialised into bricks and mortar. Meanwhile, the archives continue to bear the strain of increasing deposits and deteriorating facilities.

As Malta positions itself as a cultural hub within the Mediterranean and the European Union, it cannot afford to let its archival heritage fade into decay. Archives are vital for researchers, educators, legal professionals, and for all citizens who seek to understand the roots of their society.

The FNAM’s anniversary should be an occasion for national pride and action. The hope expressed today is clear: that 2025 will be remembered not for another missed opportunity, but as the year when Malta chose to safeguard its past by building for its future.