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THE NWU ARCHIVES

The North-West University (NWU) was formally established on 1 January 2004 through the merger of three institutions: the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (founded in 1869), the University of North-West (formerly the University of Bophuthatswana, established in 1960), and the Vaal Triangle Campus, which began offering courses in 1966.

The North-West University Archives was founded in September 1993 to collect and permanently preserve records and other materials that document the history of the university. Following the establishment of the NWU in 2004, the Archives, under the supervision of the Registrar, assumed responsibility for managing the archival records of the Potchefstroom Campus.

In 2017, the archival services across the NWU’s three campuses: Potchefstroom, Mahikeng, and Vanderbijlpark, were consolidated into a single department under the supervision of the NWU Registrar. This unified department is committed to preserving the university’s rich heritage and ensuring the integrity of its records, safeguarding invaluable artefacts, and promoting scholarly research by providing accessible archival resources.

The NWU Archives house primary records dating back to the late 1800s, including council and senate minutes, administrative records, and student council records. These collections reflect the university’s historical trajectory and its significant role in advancing higher education, reconciliation, and nation-building in South Africa.

Students, staff and researchers are welcome to use the research facilities of the Archive. To make your research as productive as possible, please contact the Archivist.

All researchers requesting access to archival material are required to sign a confidentiality agreement when requesting such information.

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ARCHIVE COLLECTIONS

These are records and other materials that are not currently in use but are preserved for their historical value and for research.