How to Search

Search options in Archives Navigator

When searching in Archives Navigator you are searching the Northern Territory Archives Service (NTAS) Archival Control System for contextual information about the archives collection of the Northern Territory Archives Service. Contextual information includes what records were created, who created them and why, how they were used, and how they relate to other records. Click here for an explanation of our Archival Control System and the terminology used.

Note that access restrictions are applied to certain classes of records, in accordance with the Information Act and individual donation agreements for community archives. If archives are restricted you will be able to search contextual information but will not be able to view the archives. For more information on access to archives, go to Conditions for Access to Archives.

There are four search options in Archives Navigator. Click on Searching on the main menu to see links to the four search options.

General search tips

Before searching in Archives Navigator, you should plan your search. If you already know the agency or series you are looking for, do a search and consult the Details page for that agency or series. Often you will need to navigate down or up through your search results to find the information you need.

If you are not sure what area you are interested in, you might find it useful to use the Browse Search first, to locate agency relevant to your area of research. We also have some research guides to assist with specific areas of interest.

When using either Keyword Search or Search in a Series, the search will look for the exact word you have entered, including slashes, hyphens and spaces. You can also use boolean searching and wildcards in Keyword Search and Search in a Series.

Note that many records are not individually registered within the Archival Control System, therefore it is highly unlikely that a search on a person's name would bring back many results.

Search results

The search results screen will display information from the NTAS Archival Control System, which consists of these hierarchically related components: Agencies, Series, Consignments, Units, and Items. Click here for a detailed explanation of our Archival Control System and the terminology used.

Search results will appear either as a Results Table or as a Details page. A search using the Direct Search method will take you directly to a Details page. The type of information contained within a Details page will vary depending on which component of the Archival Control System you are looking at. The other search methods will take you first to a Results Table, listing the options that have been produced as a result of your search, with links to the Details page for each option. Often you will need to navigate down or up through your search results to find the information you need.