Archival research can be exciting and challenging: exciting because until you search you can never be sure what records we hold or what information you will find (you may be the first researcher to see the record): challenging because archival records are more difficult to research than books in a library.
There is no single subject index to the collection. Archives are not organised by subject, but by the government agencies or individuals who created them. You can save time by searching RecordSearch on our website and, if unable to visit a reading room, you can order or request quotes for the copying of any records you identify. If visiting one of our reading rooms you should allow yourself a minimum of several hours to search for, request and read the records. If your inquiry is complex or if you are doing detailed research you will probably need more than one visit.
It will help you to make the most of your visit to the reading room if you first visit our website and search our RecordSearch and PhotoSearch databases, or do some background reading about your topic. For example, visit a library and consult encyclopedias and other published works, or if you are researching family history establish names, dates of birth, dates of arrival etc. The more information you have about your topic the more focused your archival research will be.
If you visit a reading room, a reference officer will be available to advise and assist you. If you are using our website we suggest you start by checking our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). You will also need to use what we call 'finding aids' (see below) but there is no one finding aid that suits all types of research. The information you are seeking and the time you have available will determine where you should start your search. In many cases, if you have Internet access, you can find and order the records directly from your home by using our RecordSearch and PhotoSearch databases, but you will often need to search other reference tools as well.
To see a record you need to give us its reference or citation (its series number and item number). To make your search easier the Archives creates and maintains databases, guides, fact sheets and other reference tools – called finding aids. Some of these can speed up your search considerably.
Whether or not you already have the citation, a good place to start is the RecordSearch database in which you can search for subjects as well as citations. Other finding aids take longer to use but they allow for more systematic searching and the time you spend may be rewarded by finding records on your topic that have not been researched before. Each finding aid has its advantages and limitations. Five of the main finding aids are described here. For more information about using them please ask a reference officer.
Check whether a guide to records or Fact Sheet is available on your topic. The Archives publishes these on subjects that most frequently attract research inquiries. The Fact Sheets and guides are available on this website.
If you are in a reading room help yourself to any of the Fact Sheets displayed and ask for a copy of the Fact Sheet index (not all fact sheets are on display). Guides can be used in the reading rooms at no charge. Numbered guides can be purchased for $10.00.
RecordSearch enables you to search descriptive information about the National Archives' collection. This can be a way of quickly finding the records you want.This information comprises descriptions of 60,000 collections (called series), 9000 creators and depositors, and about 6 million record items (about 10% of items in the collection). The database includes records held by the National Archives, as well as those held by the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
For more information about using RecordSearch see:
Item lists are one of the Archives' main finding aids. For any given series there is usually a list of every item in the Archives' custody belonging to that series. The lists are kept in the reading room of the office where the records are held.
If you are visiting a reading room, once you have identified the series number you can then go to the shelves and browse the item list for that series. The lists are shelved numerically, by series number. Item lists vary in the information they contain, but a typical item list looks like the example below.
Series no. A816 – Correspondence files, multiple number series, 1935–58 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
3/301/531 | Atomic test – effects of radioactivity on mammals, flora, etc. | 1952–53 | 2cm |
3/301/535 | Atomic tests, Monte Bello Islands. Warning notices to coastal shipping and aircraft approaching the target area | 1952–56 | 0.5cm |
3/301/542 | Atomic Test – Motion picture coverage | 1952 | 0.25cm |
The data in item lists is progressively being added to RecordSearch.
If you are looking for photographs use our PhotoSearch database to search captions and view images from our photographic collections. PhotoSearch is available on this website.
Remember that under the ‘30 year rule’ records held by the National Archives are generally not available for use until they are more than thirty years old. See Fact Sheet 10 – Access to records under the Archives Act.
Comments or other feedback can be sent to archives@naa.gov.au
updated January 2007