I help people trace their South African ancestors in three ways: a guide and video so you can search the records yourself, research with me, or a visit to the Western Cape Archives in Cape Town to find the record you need and order copies. Choose the kind of help that suits you.
“Jacqueline is an amazing researcher.”Giuseppe C. (USA)
All prices are in US dollars (USD).
Tap a path to see what's included and what it costs.
The Records Roadmap guide shows which South African records exist, where they're held and how to request them. The NAAIRS video shows you how to search the National Archives' online index. Both are instant, so you can start tonight from wherever you are in the world.
A practical guide to the main South African records, where they're held and how to request them, with tips from real research.
People starting out, or anyone who wants a map before they dig in.
Buy the guideA step-by-step video showing how to search NAAIRS, the National Archives' online index to records held in South Africa's national and provincial archives (including the Western Cape Archives in Cape Town, KAB), at nationalarchives.gov.za/search, and how to read what comes back.
Anyone who wants to search the NAAIRS index on their own.
Buy the videoThe NAAIRS video and the Records Roadmap together: know which records exist, then learn to find them in the NAAIRS index.
Self-starters planning their own research from start to finish.
Buy the bundleThese don't include research on your family or answers to individual questions. For that, have a look at Path 2.
I review your documents, do the research and send you a clear write-up of what I found and what to try next. You stay part of the search, but you're not doing it alone.
Feeling stuck or not sure where to start.
Book a Research Project within 30 days and the $100 goes towards it.
Book a consultOne specific question, like tracking down a death notice.
Book a research sessionBigger or tangled questions: estates, adoption, unknown parents, or families spread across many records.
Larger document sets get their own quote before any work starts.
Enquire about a projectArchive visits and copy fees aren't included in these. If the trail leads to the archive, add an Archive Visit.
This is genealogical research, not legal or immigration advice.
“Thank you Jacqueline! Talking with you was extremely valuable. You helped me so much!” Giuseppe C. (USA), who worked with Jacqueline over several years
“Wow, thank you so so much! This was so helpful. I can't thank you enough Jacqueline.” Charline H. (South Africa)
If you live abroad and know which record you need, I visit the Western Cape Archives in Cape Town, find the right file, place the copy order and follow it up for you. You don't have to fly in or work out the system on your own.
People overseas who know which record they're after and would rather have someone who knows the archive handle it.
Copies are made by the archive under its own rules, and it can limit or refuse copies, especially of some older records. If a record can't be copied, I read the file, summarise it and record the key details for you.
Not sure which record you need? Start with a Research Session or Project.
Request an archive visitThis is genealogical research, not legal or immigration advice. No research can guarantee a result; records may be missing, closed, or never created.
Start with the Records Roadmap guide ($29), which shows the main South African records, where they're held and how to request them. To search the National Archives' online index yourself, the NAAIRS video ($59) shows you how. If you'd like help, book a Consult or a Research Session.
I visit the Western Cape Archives in Cape Town. Archive days happen every two weeks, and your request joins the next one.
Usually about a month. The archive sets its own copy times and currently quotes about 15 working days, which can change. Your findings note comes first, and I follow up until your copies are released.
It depends on the collection and the archive's rules. An Archive Visit includes up to 30 scanned images emailed to you, and printed copies can be arranged on request.
Not always. The archive sets its own copying rules, and some older records may not be available for copying. If a record can't be copied, I read the file and send you a summary of the key details.
It helps, so send any you have. If you're not sure which record you need, start with a Research Session or Project.
You still get a findings note of what I searched. Records are sometimes missing or closed, so no search can promise a result.
NAAIRS is the National Archives' online index to records in South Africa's national and provincial archives, including the Western Cape Archives (KAB). It lists records, not images, and not every repository's records have moved to the new search yet. You can search it at nationalarchives.gov.za/search.