Elizabeth Serena Clifford - Durban - ordering from the archives? - COMPLETED

[tilly56]

I have decided to order the estate file of my Gt Grandmother, Elizabeth Serena Clifford - but I have had a look at the eGSSA site (having first read through the thread about this "Obtaining copies of documents from the National Archives") and can't work out what to do!!

Last year, Moira (EmPea) found a lot of information for me and gave me some references - but I cannot work out where to put them in the yellow box things on the site!!   (This is the thread : Re: Elizabeth Serena Clifford - Durban - and these are the references : In the Pietermatitzburg Archive (near Durban) you will find her estate file :

MSCE  22491/1935  CLIFFORD, ELIZABETH SERINA. (BORN BRIMFIELD) (WIDOW).  1935 1938

Are these the references I need, or - if not - how do I find them?  I'm sure I'm being a bit dim...... and when someone tells me how to do it, it'll all seem obvious..................

I want to get as much information as I can (especially as I have just discovered that she remarried to a certain Mr Doland, who apparently died, and seems to have reverted to her name from her first marriage - Clifford). 

Please could someone guide me and tell me what I should ask for and what I put in which box!?

I shall have another look at the eGSSA order page just in case something clicks...........but I don't think it will!

Many thanks for any help

Tilly

[EmPea]

Hi Tilly


QTY - Leave blank - it will auto complete with 1 and you don't know how many copies there may be anyway

DEOPT - Insert the Archive shortcode - ie NAB for Pietermaritzburg or TAB for Pretoria Archive, etc.

VOLUME NO - Insert the Source, Volume No and Reference - ie MSCE 0 22491/1935 or MHG 848/73 (sometimes there is no Volume No)

DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION - Insert the information from the Description ie CLIFFORD, ELIZABETH SERINA. (BORN BRIMFIELD) (WIDOW).

NOTE - Add anything here that will indicate to the photographer what you would like them to photograph - ie "Death Notice only - no other documents" or "Death Notice and Liquidation & Distribution Accounts" or "Death Notice and Will only". 

The photographer will not read the file for you for information so do not ask for anything specific.

If they are not sure of what you want or you have filled in something incorrectly they will e-mail you for clarification.

Regards
Moira
 

[tilly56]

Hello Moira

Thank you very much for your reply - all is clear now!! I will get straight on and order the information.

Tilly
 

[EmPea]

My pleasure Tilly

[tilly56]

I'm back again on this thread as I am having trouble getting my records.......

I ordered them last November and still haven't heard anything - I have exchanged a couple of e-mails with a Mr Daan Hamman, who always replies straight away and sends my message onto to the person who coordinates the photo service and asks them to get in touch with me, to tell me the status of the order; but I never hear anything.

Can someone advise me (are you there Moira? !!)

Do you think I should order again as maybe I am stuck in the system somewhere (ouch!!) - I realise it can take some time for the copies to be made, but it is six months now - or this is normal? I don't want them to think I am "pushy"...................  I have tried to find a telephone number, but no luck.

Help please!!


Many thanks

Tilly

[EmPea]

That's shocking Tilly!   

There is no point in ordering again as you will be dealing with the same people.

Their volunteer for the PMB Archive is terribly slow but I have never waited that long.  The longest I have waited is three months.  After about 2 months I emailed them just about every day until I got my order.  You have to be persistent with them.  It is not their full time job so they can be lax.

These are the details I have for them:

David van der Merwe
Tel : +27 (0)23 614 2761
Fax : +27 (0) 86 696 4579
Mobile +27 (0) 82 490 9160 
e-mail: vdmerwe.david [at] gmail.com

Staal Burger 
Mobile: +27 (0) 71 672 0320
Fax: +27 (0) 86 600 4942   
Tel: +27 (0) 31 765 1041
E-mail: staal [at] telkomsa.net

Richard Ball
Norfolk, England
e-mail : richard [at] eggsa.org

and then there is also Daan Hamman whose details you already have.

E-mail or call all of them.  That is really shocking service and I hope that they get your files to you soon.

Regards
Moira

Moderator Comment: e-mail edited, to avoid spamming and other abuses.
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[tilly56]

Hello Moira

Many thanks for your reply! 

I shall start with Richard Ball as he is the one Daan Hamman sent my e-mails to ....... and then I shall work my way through the list, until I get my records!

I am having a "South Africa" day - trying to find bits and pieces of information. I was just going to start another thread about one of Elizabeth's children when your answer came through - so I shall do that now

Thank you again for ALL your help!

Regards
Tilly

[rutti tutti]

Hi there,
I live in Durban and have twice ordered documents for the PMB archives and have not received them - one lot about 11 months ago and the other at least 18 months back. Good luck - wish I was not so busy and could just pop up for the morning. If you dont get any joy I may be able to do that during our July school holidays.
Ruth

[tilly56]

Hi Ruth

Thank you VERY much for your offer - hopefully we'll both receive our docs before July, but if not, and you do go to the archives, give them a nudge on my behalf!!

I shall shower them with e-mails between now and then - you never know!

thanks again

Tilly