Automation of Genealogical Records at the National Archives of Zimbabwe

Abstract

The emergence of automated systems created tremendous opportunities for access promotion in archival institutions throughout the globe. Genealogical research at the National Archives of Zimbabwe (NAZ) has been boosted by technological access systems conveyed by the FamilySearch organisation. Public archivists in national archival institutions must adopt digital finding aids to facilitate effective and efficient retrieval mechanisms in this green revolution epoch. The transition from traditional retrieval tools, which include card catalogues, inventories and guides, to digital finding aids has provided greater opportunities for genealogists to search large databases for information. Genealogists or family historians are major users of the archival collection, and archival institutions should take advantage of best practices brought in by technology to create flawless access systems. The researcher used a qualitative case study methodology with an interpretivist perspective where the main focus of the research was on the head office of the NAZ in Harare. Interviews, document analysis and observations were used as the major data collecting tools. The results show the NAZ automated a few classes of genealogical records, including deceased estate records, and is yet to automate immigration, chieftainship and census returns records, which are also crucial in family history research. The study recommends the adoption of the best of both worlds, which involves automation and digitisation of all family history records to facilitate effective and efficient service delivery to genealogists.