The image collection (which also includes photo prints, negatives, postcards, slides (transparencies), reproductions of artworks, and digital images) is organized in a way that the same catalogue number is used for all manifestations of a particular image – negative, positive, and digital.

As a rule, only the digital images should be viewed by archives users, while all other manifestations are considered as restricted preservation originals. Digital images can be called up directly from the PHOTO database.

The National Archives used to have a photo show collection, consisting of mounted prints in standard size, which user could browse or look up in catalogue-assisted search. This collection has become redundant through the easier access via the digital version, and been taken out of circulation. It is however still retained as a backup, as a reference in cases of doubt, and also because some images are not available in the photo originals collection.

There is a large amount of uncatalogued images in private accessions, in particular the vast Ottilie Nitzsche-Reiter Collection and the Information Photo Library (formerly Ministry of Information and Bradcasting).

Two digital collections exist: the Digital Image Collection (DIC) digitized by the National Archives, available on the intranet server at the National Archives; and the Digital Namibian Archives (DNA), digitized in a cooperation project by the Polytechnic of Namibia, and available online via the Polytechnic website.

The digitization and cataloguing process is ongoing.

The use of photo originals is generally restricted. Digitised images should be used wherever available. Exceptions have to be motivated and applied for in writing to the Head of Archives.

Back to List of Achivilia