RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => South Africa => Topic started by: EmPea on Thursday 01 February 07 16:15 GMT (UK)
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The Genealogical Society of South Africa has a "pay to use" service which will enable you to obtain pictures of documents held in the National Archives.
Go to http://www.eggsa.org and select Content --> On Line Shop --> order Archive documents. Once you have selected the currency, select "Enter the Shop" and then select "Archive photos" (in yellow on the blue band) and follow the instructions.
Much quicker than trying to get the Archives to reply to your e-mail requests!!
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Hi there,
i think this may be for members only - see below from the benefits of the gssa. ( now extended to non members at a higher price than members but still incredible value)
Ruth
19.06.07 update
This is the best service I think that we have had in South Africa - it does work but it does take time - at least a month. So please be patient - difficult I know! Getting a copy of a death notice is like unlocking a treasure trove. I recently have had a breakthrough in my own family brickwall through one death notice Please note that at present we have a massive public service strike on that is causing problems for all - especially me as a teacher!!!!)
Here is the direct link to ordering:
http://www.eggsa.org/sales/eshop_e_dc_docs.htm
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Hi Ruth
I read that too but have ordered myself today and was not asked in the actual ordering process about being a member at all. Maybe that will happen when I have to pay for the pics?
Regards
Moira
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There is a little box which asks if you are a member and what currency you would like to pay in - so dont know if this all links up or not!!!
Ruth
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I noticed that too Ruth and you only see that question if you click on the online shop hyperlink on the main page but, if you go via Contents --> Online Shop --> order Archive documents, you get a similar screen without that question.
I have ordered pics for myself and was not asked about being a GSSA member at any point. I have had confirmation of the order as well as another e-mail confirming that I am only getting Death Notices as I didn't complete the notes for MHG files.
We will see what transpires with my order.
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Hi Sharon
The site referred to is NOT the National Archives. It is pointless asking them for anything as they do not respond.
The site referred to is http://www.eggsa.org/ - the Genealogical Society of South Africa. I have had success using this site and the costs are detailed per order and then per picture taken (the Archives don't really permit photocopies anymore) so you will know more or less how much it is going to cost you. Also, you specify what it is you want copied - ie Death Notice only or Liquidation & Distribution Accounts as well or all documents and only pay once they have taken the pics. Just follow the instructions at the beginning of this thread and you will have success.
Which Archive is it in, by the way?
Regards
Moira
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I will give you the actual document numbers and info tomorrow as it is late and I am going to bed. Thanks for the info.
Sharon
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This is great!!! Thanks for that EmPea.
Do you know if they do Transvaal papers too...it's on the NAAIRS site.
BTW some time ago someone put up an address that had pics of Transvaal documents online...does anyone have the add please as I lost it ::) and it was really interesting.
Sylvia
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Well I've taken the plunge and been and gone and done it ;D Ordered from the eggsa.org site.
Keeping fingers crossed :-\
Anyone know how long they take?
Sylvia
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Hi Sylvia
Same website - http://www.eggsa.org/library/main.php for some documents.
Depending on the Archive, it will take anything from two weeks to 2 months. I have found that the Free State Archive takes a long time. The Pretoria (Transvaal) & Cape Town Archive should be about 2 weeks.
Regards
Moira
This is great!!! Thanks for that EmPea.
Do you know if they do Transvaal papers too...it's on the NAAIRS site.
BTW some time ago someone put up an address that had pics of Transvaal documents online...does anyone have the add please as I lost it ::) and it was really interesting.
Sylvia
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Thanks Moira, I never thought to look around on the site while I was there...too keen to get my order off ;D
I'm hoping these Estate papers will answer some questions with my lot...I'm particularly interested in the widow.
And yes I filled in all the notes bit. ;)
cheers Sylvia
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To EmPea & rutti tutti
I just ordered a death notice on line from the eggsa.org site and received a very polite email asking me to join the society for $21 per year or pay a modest increase in the charges for a non-member. As I am only following up on a rumour that my g-grandfather's cousin emigrated to SA and to my knowledge have no other rellies there I've opted for the non-member route. Thanks for the tip about the site - wouldn't have known where to begin otherwise :)
Heather
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Hi Heather
When did you order your death cert? Oh duh! just noticed you said today
I ordered my estate papers on 23rd March and have had no emails from them at all
Do you know how much (per page)they will be charging you?
Sylvia
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Hi Sylvia
This is a copy of the email I received - maybe a new policy since you ordered??
"You may already have heard from Annelie in this regard, but archive photos
are at present only available to members of the Genealogical Society of SA
(http://eggsa.org) at the prices advertised on the website. To non-members
the prices are US $2 for the first photo in a document and US $1 for
subsequent photos in the same document, plus the $2 handling fee per order
(compared to $1, $0.50 and $1 respectively)
Membership to the organisation is only US $ 21 per year, so if you plan on
ordering a few photos, it is certainly well worth your while to join us (in
addition you'll also have access to a number of genealogical resources,
quarterly journals and newsletters). To join, just follow the JOIN link on
our main page
Should you not wish to join the society but to continue with the order at
the non-member prices, please let Annelie know (her email address appears
above)
Regards
Colin"
Since I'm in Canada and unlikely to need more than one document, I think it is still excellent value compared with other countries like Wales for example where you have to email a request - wait 6 weeks for them to send you another email with the order form, then send a cheque etc. etc. The last two from National Library of Wales cost Five pounds each for three photocopies and a fancy mailer. I would much rather have had the option of ordering on line and having them email etc. but not to be, for the moment anyway.
They don't even charge you until they mail the photo which is fair. My only concern is someone else on RC said that mail service is not necessarily reliable from SA.
Heather
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Hmmm maybe they have changed their policy. This is all I've had from them so far, just an invoice.
Qty Item Name Description Price
1 Archive Photograph (to be paid when ready)
Repository: TAB
Reference: MHG 9711/68
Description: MCINTYRE, CHARLES. ESTATE FILE
Note: Please photograph the Death Notice and all of the following, if available: Will, Inventory List, Liquidation and Distribution Accounts,
Statement made by beneficiary with receipt of inheritance, Marriage
Certificates and Death Certificate.
Aus$ 0.00
Subtotal 1 Item : Aus$ 0.00
Total Order Amount : Aus$ 0.00 (They will charge me in Aust $ as I am in NZ)
Like you I don't mind having to pay extra as this is probably a one off for me too, being unable to find my Great Uncle's estate papers.
Does anyone know if there is a date after which docs will not be put on the NAAIRS site...I'm looking for possibly 1960's
Sylvia
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Hi Sylvia
I also received an email like yours first and about an hour later I got the one I copied to RC. Maybe they increased the charges April 1st?? I'll post if and when I hear back with the Death Notice.
Heather
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Thanks Heather, I'd be interested.
I sent my order off on the 23rd March, received invoice 24th March.
Maybe they've been swamped with requests since word got out :P and decided to make a few bob from it.
Sylvia
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Just an update
Have received my order today by email ;D and hopefully a paper copy will come in the post.
There was some mix up somewhere as I should have received them last month...oh well never mind they're here now :)
Not bad either 10 pages for $11USD...which works out $12.65NZ.
They have never asked me to join the Society and seem very helful, so good luck everyone
Sylvia
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Thanks for the update Ladybird
Have not heard boo at this end. I ordered mine April 1st so hopefully I'm a week behind your schedule and will be hearing something from them shortly.....
Heather
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Hope you hear soon Heather
I did end up sending them an "is there a problem" email with a copy of the original invoice
Hey presto..instant action!
Sylvia
Oh too it may not be obvious who their reply is from. Mine had as subject a 4 digit numer and my last name, so maybe check your junkmail :-\
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Thanks for the tip, ladybird!! I will try the "is there a problem" email route in a few days!! it is also quite possible that the email got junked - if so in my case it is long gone as everything is double deleted once a day :(
Heather
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Hi all,
I am sure that these folk are probably swamped with requests as i think this is the first time a search has ben offered so reasonably. Remember this is South Africa where things are not as accessible as in other countries. Most likely explanation for non delivery is that in the space of 6 weeks we have had 5 public holidays - resulting in most of the country being on holiday at some stage over the April period, including myself!
At some stage all the details of the death notices will be available as I was involved in aan ongoing death notices transcription programme a few years back.
Ruth
PS
I have also applied for a death notice so will see how long it takes
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Thanks for the background info Ruth. I'll leave them alone for a few weeks longer - I don't think they bill for the papers until they are ready to ship anyway so it is still within a reasonable time frame.
FIVE public holidays in SIX weeks wow! What a deal. When I emigrated from UK 32 years ago, had a choice of SA or Canada - guess I chose the wrong country!! Although there seem to be a lot of people from SA emigrating to Canada these days - they will miss the public holidays as we only get 10 in a whole year!!
Heather
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Hi Ruth
I think the eGGSA people are very brave to take on this undertaking, as you say they are probably swamped :-\, but "good on them" a sterling job ;D
I thought I'd just cut and paste the part of the email from them explaining the delay.
"Although we aim to send out physical items such as CDs and books ordered from the eGGSA web site within 10 days the same is not possible for archive photographs due to the nature of the process.
I apologise that this was not made clear on your invoice (I have corrected this on current invoices).
I am not sure wether it was due to a mis-routed email or some other reason that you did not receive note earlier that your photographs were ready, but we apologise for the delay."
BTW my great aunt was left a bit of land and a cow and a bull, but the cow died before hubby did
Sylvia
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Received the Death Notice by email today. It was worth the wait :)
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Received my death notice on Saturday as well - also worth the wait.
Ruth