Notarial Archives Foundation

The Notarial Archives Foundation (NAF) is a voluntary organisation committed to preserving and promoting Malta’s rich documentary heritage. Founded in 2005 as the Notarial Archives Resource Council by Dr Joan Abela, it was formally established as a foundation in 2017. NAF safeguards a unique 600-year-old collection of notarial deeds housed in the Notarial Registers Archive (NRA) in Valletta, which forms part of the National Archives of Malta. These records are a vital resource for understanding Malta’s legal, social, and economic history. In July 2023, the Maltese Government officially entrusted NAF with the management of the NRA, with the goal of transforming it into a centre of excellence. As part of this transformation, the Foundation inaugurated the Notarial Registers Archive Museum on 23rd November 2023. Through conservation, research, technological innovation, digitisation, and outreach, the Foundation works to ensure that this extraordinary archive remains accessible and meaningful to researchers and the wider public. The Foundation is also committed to supporting endangered archives and libraries across Malta, offering professional assistance in their preservation and management. At the heart of our work is a growing community of dedicated volunteers, without whom the Foundation’s work would not be possible.