Provincial Archive Service: Overview

The Western Cape Archives and Records Service collects, manages and preserves records that form part of our archival heritage. These records are preserved for use by the government and people of South Africa.

The Western Cape Archives and Records Service is in the custody of archival records dating from 1651 when the first colonial settlement by the Dutch was established.

The core functions of the Western Cape Archives and Records Service include:

• Providing access to records and promote their use by the public
• Ensure proper records management
• Preserving records

Archival records are made up of public records and non-public records. Public records are created by government departments and organisations in the course of performing their functions. Non-public records are private records and papers created by private individuals and donated to the Archives Repository.

• Opening Times
• What can you find at the Archives?
• You can do your own research at the Archives
• Collections Available
• History of the Archives
• Education Programmes 
• Records Management
• Digitisation
• Oral History
• Guide for Community Archives