National Archives of Mauritius

Overview

The National Archives of Mauritius is a public body operating under the Ministry of Arts and Culture, located in Coromandel. It is one of the oldest archival institutions in the Indian Ocean and the Southern Hemisphere.

History

The archives were officially established in 1815. In 2013, the Ministry of Arts and Culture and the Ministry of ICT launched a digital archive system and website giving local and international users access to some 530,000 scanned documents.

Collections, Holdings, and Publications

The National Archives holds material documenting the French and British colonial administrations and indentured immigration to Mauritius, and preserves records dating from 1815. At least parts of four Mauritian collections are inscribed on UNESCO's Memory of the World International Register held or associated with the National Archives: the Slave Trade and Slavery Records in Mauritius (1721-1892), Records of the French Occupation of Mauritius, archival collections relating to Blessed Fr. Jacques-Désiré Laval, and Records of Indentured Immigration.

Access and Usage

The National Archives assists the public and genealogical researchers with searches, particularly for records predating 1810. Search fees are charged for staff-conducted research, at different rates for Mauritian and non-Mauritian citizens.