50th anniversary of the Gibraltar National Archives
It will be open to the public as from Tuesday 5th November and will close on Saturday 23rd November.
The event will be the cumulative work of past and present Archivists. A selection of small representative samples from the GNA repository treasure-trove will be on display.
The exhibition, divided into seven section, covers over 1,300 years, just before 711 to 2019.
Section 1: Pre-16th Century
Section 2: 16th Century
Section 3: 17th Century
Section 4: 18th Century
Section 5: 19th Century
Section 6: 20th Century
Section 7: 21st Century
The seven sections comprise 138 Panels, with 268 images on display.
The showpiece is a 19th Century oversized (265cm x 108cm) Ordinance Survey Map ‘Plan of the Fortress and Peninsular of Gibraltar including the Spanish Survey of 1865’ created by Royal Engineers Regiment Cartographer Lieutenant Charles Warren c1866.
There will also be a lecture series, which will include 45-minute talks with 15-minute questions and answers discussions, a Digitisation and Conservation station with daily demonstrations at 1100, 1400 and 1700 and a selection of Gibraltar films.
The Archivist, Anthony Pitaluga said: ‘The historical documents on display represent a very small sample of the materials held by the GNA. I hope that this exhibition will inspire and stimulate the public and researchers alike to visit us and learn more.
"I have used the term ‘historical document’ even though I think the term is misleading. We give this label to documentation that has played a part in events we think of as history. However, the email or text message you wrote recently is past tense from the moment you wrote it.
"Time passes, but well cared for documents change little. Evergreen recollections that belong to all of us!"
The Deputy Chief Minister, who is the Minister with responsibility for the Archives, said:
“I must once again commend the Archivist Anthony Pitaluga for the fascinating display that he has brought together for this exhibition. It is a testimony to his hard work and to that of his predecessors. Every person who has held the post of Archivist has contributed positively to the development of the Archives in a different way. Anthony has made great strides to move forward into the digital age in keeping with the times in which we live. This is the way forward.”
30-10-2019 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
