RecordSearch is the National Archives’ collection database. It is the quickest and most efficient way of finding out what is held in the collection, and of locating the records you want. RecordSearch is available on the National Archives website, and in our research centres.
RecordSearch gives you online access to:
- descriptions of 68,000 collections (called series)
- details of 9,400 creators and depositors (agencies, persons and organisations)
- descriptions of around 20 million record items (eg files, maps, posters), and
- digital copies of 4.5 million records
You can use RecordSearch to:
- Search for records that you can order for delivery to a research centre
- View digital copies of selected records
- Search for information about collections, creators and depositors
- Refine your search if it returns too many records
- Register as a researcher – obtain a researcher card number and login name, and set a password
- Submit an access application, and
- Order and pay for copies of records
The National Archives continues to add item descriptions and digital copies to RecordSearch at a rate of several hundred thousand each year. The database currently describes approximately 45 per cent of all items in the collection.
You can find some great hints and tips on searching in RecordSearch Help Help | RecordSearch | National Archives of Australia.
