Natal Archives Repository

The National Archives was formally constituted on 1 January 1997 in terms of the National Archives of South Africa Act (Act 43 of 1996), and its mandate covers all governmental bodies at central, provincial and local government level.  It also enjoys a mandate to supplement its official holdings by collecting non-public, or private, records.

Useful Addresses                                    Search                                     Collections of Interest in the Natal Repository

In terms of the National Archives of South Africa Act (Act 43 of 1996) all public records in the custody of the National Archives are available for public access if a period of twenty years has elapsed since the end of the year in which the record came into existence.  Repositories contain records older than twenty years;  records of archival value but less than twenty years old are stored in records centres.

Archival institutions are concerned with the acquisition of original unpublished material.  At national level these records are the key to an understanding of past governmental policies and decisions which have affected every sphere of life, in both domestic and foreign policy.  At the level of the local community they can help to explain how a building, a street, a village or a town, or for that matter a business or other organisation, took shape and why it is as it is now.

Archives have often been demanded as evidence in courts of law, usually in civil cases to determine some right of entitlement such as an inheritance or perhaps common or mineral rights, or proof of identity.

In South Africa a distinction is made between public and non-public records.  Public records are those records created or received in the course of official business by governmental bodies at central, provincial and local levels.  Non-public records, or private records, comprise all other categories of record - private papers, business records, church records, records of political figures and organisations, etc.

The responsibility for the maintenance of public records with archival value in South Africa lies with the National Archives of South Africa.  South Africa's National Archives operates on a provincial basis, with each repository holding those records that pertain to the province in which it is situated.

The computer system maintained by the National Archives is highly regarded internationally.  Access to all databases can be secured at any one of the repositories and private institutions.  Computer printouts can be provided at any archives repository.  The Natal Archives Repository will only make a maximum of 20 photocopies per enquiry.

There are three primary means of acquisition.  Firstly, by way of transfer from records creators falling within the custodial mandate of the archival institution, e.g. public records with archival value from governmental bodies at central government level are transferred into the custody of the National Archives.  Secondly, by way of collection from diverse sources. Hence there is no obligation on the part of the records creator to transfer material, and acquisition is effected by purchase, donation or loan.  And thirdly, by way of creation, implying that the archival institution produces or secures records to fill gaps in its holdings.

The following archives groups are good sources of information for family researchers:

• MSCE - Master of the Supreme Court - Estates
  
  Estate files received from the Master of the Supreme Court, Natal Provincial Division.  These files contain items pertaining to the administration of an estate, e.g. a death notice, will, inventory, administration and distribution account.  At present this Repository holds the files for the period 1840-1971.
  
  

• Birth, Marriage and Death Indexes and Registers
  These records are compiled according to the place/district where the event was registered.  This is not a complete set of documentation, as transfer is determined by the Department of Home Affairs.  There are certain restrictions on access to these records, i.e. births - 100 years ; marriages and deaths - 30 years.
  
  

• CSO (vols.2282-2288) - Colonial Secretary's Offices : Marriage Declarations
  For records of marriages solemnized before the Magistrate of Pietermaritzburg for the period 1847-1888.
  
  

• EI - European Immigration Department, 1849-1911
  These are records of the arrival of immigrants in Durban via assisted or sponsored passages.

The following archives groups are good sources of information on military service:

• NDR - Natal Defence Records
  
  

• NMP - Natal Mounted Police
  
  

• Records pertaining to British troops who fought in South Africa were the property of the Imperial authorities, and were returned to Britain when they withdrew.  Contact:
  
  Public Record Office
  Ruskin Avenue
  Kew
  Richmond
  Surrey
  TWA 4DU
  United Kingdom

The following archives groups are good sources of information for enquiries concerning local history:

• CSO (vols.23-30) - Colonial Secretary's Offices : Letters received :1849-1853)
  
  

• Magistrates and Commissioners
  
  

• Local Authorities

The following archives groups have been withdrawn from photocopying:

• The archives of the Master of the Supreme Court, Natal Provincial Division (MSC and MSCE).
  
  

• The archives of the Department of Home Affairs
  
  

• The archives of the European Immigration Department
  
  

• The archives of the Colonial Secretary's Office (vols.2282-2288) - marriage declarations

This step has been necessitated by the poor physical condition of the records, mainly as a result of high user frequency.  The relevant volumes may be consulted, but may not be photocopied.

A Guide to Genealogical Research in the Natal Archives Repository is available free of charge in the Reading Room, or a copy can be sent to a South African postal address on receipt of stamps to cover postage costs.

USEFUL ADDRESSES: