South Africa Archives and Libraries

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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 Instruction. Then test your knowledge with the short Assignment - the 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: infodesk@nlsa.ac.za

Cape Town Campus
5 Queen Victoria Street
Cape Town 8000
South Africa
Telephone: 27 021 424 6320
Email: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: manager@stelmus.co.za
Email #2: 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.