Have you reached a “brick wall” in your genealogy research? Onsite genealogy research in South Africa may just be the key to extending your South African ancestry. We have genealogists in South Africa that can help!
Challenges in South African Genealogy Research
Family history research in South Africa relies heavily on a few key record types: civil registration, death notices, passenger lists for immigrants, church records, newspapers, and estate files. Many of these records have been microfilmed or placed online, but a large percentage still remain within onsite archives in South Africa. Records are frequently written in Dutch or Afrikaans and require familiarity with those languages to read. Research can also be challenging if your ancestors were Black and/or enslaved during the colonial period.
Our Team of Professional Genealogists Can Help
If you have South African ancestry, our professionals can track down the town of origin for your ancestors, determine where that location is today, and identify where the records for that place are currently kept. For areas which do not have records available online or microfilm, our onsite agents can visit that location to obtain any available documents.
Onsite Archive Access in South Africa
Our onsite genealogy researchers have access to the following archives, repositories, and libraries in South Africa to help track down the records you need to extend your South African family history:
- National Archives and Record Service
- University of Cape Town Archival and Special Collections
- University of Pretoria Archives
- Western Cape Archives and Records Service
- National Library of South Africa
- Africana Research Library
- Alberton Library
- Athlone Public Library
- Bellville Public Library
- Bloemfontein City Library
- Camps Bay Public Library
- Cape Town Central Public Library
- Claremont Public Library
- Cory Library
- Glenstantia Library
- Johannesburg City Library
- Linden Library
- Meadowridge Public Library
- Milnerton Public Library
- Pinelands Public Library
- Rondebosch Library
- Sandton Library
- Strand Public Library
- Tableview Public Library
- University College London
- University of South Africa (UNISA) Library
- Vredehoek Public Library