South Africa Archives and Libraries

Archives
National Archives and Record Service

The National Archives and Records Service (NARS) provides for the management and care of the government records and for the preservation and use of a national archival heritage.

This online resource provides a National Automated Archival Information Retrieval System which contains records of genealogical value.

How to Use the National Archives Website

To learn how to use National Archives, try out the "How to" Guide! First, read through the [[Media:1-National_Archives,_Instruction.pdf|Instruction]]. Then test your knowledge with the short [[Media:2-National_Archives,_Assignment.pdf|Assignment]] - the [[Media:3-National_Archives,_Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]] is provided to check your answers!

University of Cape Town Archival and Special Collections

The UCT Archives preserves paper records in two sets of collections: Administrative Archives and the University Libraries’ Special Collections.

University of Pretoria Archives

The Archives of the University of Pretoria serves as the memory bank of the institution. It preserves and maintains access to records from all sectors of the University, as well as associated institutions and communities. It strives to reflect the spirit of the University and to support the University’s teaching, research and community service mission.

Western Cape Archives and Records Service

The Western Cape Archives and Records Service provides public access to government records and private collections that are 20 or more years old. The archive is used for academic, government and private research. Genealogical research is the most popular use of the archives.

Independent Archives

Historical Papers is one of the largest and most comprehensive independent archives in Southern Africa. Over 3300 collections of historical, political and cultural importance, encompassing the mid 17th Century to the Present

Libraries
National Library of South Africa Pretoria Campus 228 Johannes Ramokhoase St Pretoria 0001 South Africa Telephone: 27 012 401 9700 Email: [mailto:infodesk@nlsa.ac.za infodesk@nlsa.ac.za] Cape Town Campus 5 Queen Victoria Street Cape Town 8000 South Africa Telephone: 27 021 424 6320 Email: [mailto:info@nlsa.ac.za info@nlsa.ac.za] Website: National Library of South Africa

Africana Research Library 63-65 Dutoitspan Road 34 Sidney St Kimberley 8300 Northern Cape South Africa Telephone: 27 53 830 6247 Email: [mailto:info@africanalibrary.co.za info@africanalibrary.co.za] Website: Africana Library, Kimberley Website #2: Africana Library Website #3: Africana Library, Kimberley

University College London

The University College London contains the following database: Legacies of British Slave-ownership. It is a database of those paid after being forced to free slaves in 1833. Although the site refers to "British Slave Ownership", searching the database shows all claims by residents of the South Africa cape colony.

University of South Africa (UNISA) Library

Capetown Branch 15 Jean Simonis Street Parow 7500 Telephone: 27 021 936 4125/4126 Email: [mailto:ctnlib@unisa.ac.za ctnlib@unisa.ac.za] Durban Branch 230 Stalwart Simelane Street Durban 4001 Telephone: 27 031 335 1722/23/24 East London Branch Phyllis Ntantala (Collaborative Library) 50 Church Street East London, CBD East London 5200 Telephone: 27 043 709 0431/2 Ekurhuleni Branch Cnr R51 Road and Brazil Street Daveyton, Benoni Telephone: 27 011 845 9338/9 Florida Branch GJ Gerwel Building [Former C Block] Cnr Christiaan De Wet and Pioneer Avenue Florida Telephone: 27 011 471 3068/2933/2837 Nelspruit Branch 1st floor, Standard Bank Building 31 Brown Street Nelspruit 1201 Telephone: 27 013 755 2476 Email: [mailto:nelslib@unisa.ac.za nelslib@unisa.ac.za] Pietermaritzburg Branch 1 Langalibalele Street Pietermaritzburg Telephone: 27 033 355 1713/14 Polokwane Branch Provincial Centre - Limpopo Province PO Box 2805 Polokwane 0700 Telephone: 27 015 2903401/15/31/33/36/56 Port Elizabeth Branch Greyville House Cnr Cape Road and Greyville Street Greenacres Port Elizabeth 6001 Telephone: 27 041 392 0115 Pretoria, Main campus (Muckleneuk) Anton Lembede (AL) Building Preller Street Muckleneuk Ridge Pretoria Unisa Library PO Box 392 Unisa 0003 Telephone: 27 012 429 3133 Rustenburg Branch Cnr OR Tambo and Steen Street Rustenburg 0300 Telephone: 27 014 594 8873/43/26/42 Sunnyside Branch Building 15 Walker Street Sunnyside Campus Telephone: 27 012 441 5781/5782/5763

Website: Library Branch locator

Vredehoek Public Library 14 Derry St Vredehoek Cape Town 8001 South Africa Telephone: 27 21 464 1200 Email: [mailto:vredehoek.library@capetown.gov.za vredehoek.library@capetown.gov.za] Website: Vredehoek Public Library Website #2: Vredehoek Public Library Website #3: Vredehoek Public Library (CITY OF CAPE TOWN MUNICIPALITY)

Museums
Apartheid Museum Cnr Northern Parkway & Gold Reef Roads, Ormonde, Johannesburg Telephone: +27 (0)11 309 4700 Email: [mailto:info@apartheidmuseum.org info@apartheidmuseum.org] Website: Apartheid Museum


 * The Apartheid Museum opened in 2001 and is acknowledged as the pre-eminent museum in the world dealing with 20th century South Africa, at the heart of which is the apartheid story.

CP Nel Museum 3 Baron Van Reede St, Oudtshoorn 6620 Telephone: +27 (0)44 272 7306 Email: [mailto:info@cpnelmuseum.co.za info@cpnelmuseum.co.za] Website: CP Nel Museum


 * Even if you are not very interested in the historical side of life, you should experience the C.P.Nel Museum, one of the best country museums in South Africa, situated in Oudtshoorn, the heart of the Klein Karoo. The C.P. Nel Museum is also the only museum with a Synagogue inside - still in use. Shortly a review about the role of 3 famous persons at the Museum's post, Bullock, Vixseboxse and Nel and the role they played in the building's existence. The Ostrich Feather Boom period at the beginning of the 20th Century allowed the local enthusiasts to build new schools in the area.

Ditsong Museums of South Africa 70 WF Nkomo, Pretoria 0002 Telephone: +27 (0)12 000 0010/12 492 5744 Email: [mailto:info@ditsong.org.za info@ditsong.org.za] Website: Ditsong Museums of South Africa Website #2: Ditsong Museums of South Africa


 * Ditsong Museums of South Africa is an amalgamation of eight museums, seven in Tshwane and one in Johannesburg. Our museums have diverse collections covering the fields of fauna and flora, palaeontology, military history, cultural history, geology, anthropology and archaeology.

Drostdy Museum 18 Swellengrebel Street, Swellendam 6740 Telephone: +27 (0)28 514 1138 Email: [mailto:info@drostdymuseum.com info@drostdymuseum.com] Website: Drostdy Museum


 * The Drostdy was built by the Dutch East India Company in 1747 to serve as residence and official headquarters for the Landdrost. Soon after a gaol, a house for the secretary, a mill and various outbuildings were erected.

Huguenot Memorial Museum Lambrechts Street, Franschhoek, Western Cape 7690 Telephone: +27 (0)21 876 2532 Email: [mailto:admin@museum.co.za admin@museum.co.za] Website: Huguenot Memorial Museum


 * Huguenot Memorial Museum shows the history of the French Huguenots who came to South Africa at the end of the seventeenth century. Displays are housed in the main building and in the annex. There is also a shop and is by the Huguenot Monument.

James Hall Museum of Transport Pioneers' Park, 193 Rosettenville Road, La Rochelle Telephone: +27 (0)11 435-9485/6/7 or +27 (0)11 435-9821 Email: [mailto:veronicapienaar50@gmail.com veronicapienaar50@gmail.com] Website: James Hall Museum of Transport


 * The James Hall Museum of Transport in Johannesburg is the largest and most comprehensive museum of land transport in South Africa. It was established by the Late Jimmie Hall together with the City of Johannesburg in February 1964.


 * The JHMT gives visitors a rare glimpse of Johannesburg's transport history, dating back more than a century. The museum is the most comprehensive land transport museum in South Africa, with thematic displays and exhibits in the various exhibition halls

South African Museum 25 Queen Victoria Street, Gardens, Cape Town Telephone: +27 (0)21 481 3800 Email: [mailto:info@iziko.org.za info@iziko.org.za] Website: South African Museum


 * The South African museum founded in 1825 and situated in the historic Company’s Gardens has seen millions of visitors all attracted by the vast historical collection the museum has to offer, which ranges from fossils to ancient insects and historical tools. A visit to this museum is not only culturally enriching, but the impressive natural collection will also ignite a spark of interest in learning more about the creatures with which we share our planet with.

Stellenbosch Museum 37 Ryneveld Street, Stellenbosch 7600 Telephone: +27 (0)21 887 2937 Email: [mailto:manager@stelmus.co.za manager@stelmus.co.za] Email #2: [mailto:admin@stelmus.co.za admin@stelmus.co.za] Website: Stellenbosch Museum


 * A must do activity is to spend a day visiting the many historical buildings and museums in Stellenbosch. There truly is something for everyone in this town! From the V.O.C. Kruithuis, an old gunpowder house where war memorabilia is on display, to the Toy and Miniature Museum, where you can take a trip back to the good old days before computer games and mobile phones. The Village Museum is another must during your stay in Stellenbosch with its four lovely restored historic homes which you can view at your leisure, Schreuderhuis, Blettermanhuis, OM Berghhuis and the beautiful Grosvenor House.

For a list of museums in South Africa, go to List of museums in South Africa in Wikipedia.