Before you go
Record catalogue references and the repository’s published access arrangements. Check appointments and reproduction rules. Bring a concise question that staff can route to a collection, rather than a request to research an entire family.
At the desk
Keep the collection reference beside every note or permitted photograph. Record folder titles and page numbers. Note missing sections that affect your interpretation. Do not rearrange documents to make a photograph look neater.
After the visit
Retain the originals and make a working copy of your notes. Summarise what the material establishes, what it suggests and which question remains. A useful result can be a more precise question rather than a new ancestor.
Further reading
For source material and collection context, visit National Archives of South Africa. Check the collection’s own scope and access instructions before relying on it.