Tanzania Archives and Libraries

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Tanzania

Archives and Libraries

• Archives collect and preserve original documents of organizations such as churches or governments. Libraries generally collect published sources such as books, maps, and microfilm.
• If you plan to visit a repository, contact them and ask for information about their collection, hours, services, and fees. Ask if they require you to have a reader’s ticket (a paper indicating you are a responsible researcher) to view the records, and ask how to obtain one.
• Although the records you need may be in an archive or library, the FamilySearch Library may have microfilmed and/or digitized copies of them.

Archives

Archives and Historical Sources for Tanzania "...research in Tanzanian history must consider a notional “grand archive” that consists of material spread across dozens of archival collections in Tanzania and around the world." Background explanation.

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National Archives of Tanzania
Vijibweni Street, Upangais
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The Tanzania National Archives (TNA) system comprises a headquarters in Dar es Salaam and six regional branch offices located in Mbeya, Mwanza, Arusha, Dodoma, Tanga, and Singida.

The three major groups of materials retained within the TNA system are records from German colonial times (pre-1916/17), the British records (pre-1962), and records from various levels of government and administration of post-independence Tanzania (Tanganyika). A considerable number of post-1962 records originating from local level government and administration have also been moved to Dar es Salaam.

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Endangered Archives

• Records of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania in Moshi, Tanzania
• PEACH - preserving East African co-operative heritage Project
• Early Islamic print in the Maalim Muhammad Idris Collection, Zanzibar, Tanzania
• Zanzibar

Libraries

Tanganyika National Library
Maktaba Street
P O Box 9283
Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam
Tanzania

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National Central Library of Tanzania
Tanzania Library Services Board
Bibi Titi Mohamed Road
SLP 9283, Dar es Salaam

E-mail: info@tlsb.go.tz
Phone: +255-22 2150048/9
Fax: +255-22 2151100
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Website

Museums

The National Museum of Tanzania is a consortium of five Tanzanian museums whose purpose is to preserve and show exhibits about the history and natural environment of Tanzania.

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Dar es Salaam National Museum
5 Shaaban Robert Street
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Phone: +255 712 562 397
Website

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Arusha Declaration Museum
Kaloleni Road
Arusha, Tanzania

Website

Documents on the colonial history of Tanzania, the fight for independence, and the Arusha Declaration

Record Offices

Registration Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (RITA)
Rita Tower
Simu Street
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Telephone: +255 22 292 4180
Website