The National Archives and Discovery

Supporting guides

• How Do I Search Discovery?
  Search Discovery by unit, place, record type and date range, not by surname alone. Catalogue entries are organised by creator and series, so a search that mirrors the catalogue structure returns far fewer false matches.
• What Does a Discovery Reference Mean?
  A Discovery reference is the archive address of a record: department, series, piece and item. It is what you need to order, view or cite a record, so copy it exactly and keep it with your notes.
• How Do I Tell If a Record Is Digitised?
  A Discovery entry states whether a digital copy is available and how to view it. If no digital copy is shown, the record is still held, but viewing it means a visit or a copy order where offered.
• What Is a Record Series?
  A record series is a group of records created by one body for one purpose, such as war diaries for a formation. Knowing the series helps you browse neighbouring pieces when a single piece is missing or thin.
• How Do I Use TNA Research Guides?
  Research guides at The National Archives explain a record type, its coverage, its gaps and how to search for it. Read the guide for your record type before searching, because it states coverage limits that a catalogue search will not show.
• How Do I Handle Name Variants in Discovery?
  Handle name variants by searching initials, variant spellings and service numbers alongside the full name. Catalogue entries follow the spelling on the record, which may differ from the modern or family spelling.
• What Should I Know Before Visiting The National Archives?
  Before a visit, prepare a list of references from Discovery, check reading room rules and opening arrangements on the official site, and plan which pieces matter most. A visit without references wastes the visit on searching that could have been done at home.
• How Do Copy Orders Work?
  Copy orders depend on the record, its condition and the holder's current service, and terms are stated on the official site. Order only records you have already proved relevant, because a copy is a cost tied to one reference.
• What Does a Closed Record Mean?
  A closed record is one not yet open under the access rules that apply to it, often because of date or sensitivity. Closure is a status to note and re-check, not a dead end to work around by other means.
• Why Not Just Use a Web Search Instead of Discovery?
  A web search finds pages that mention a record, while Discovery finds the record itself in the catalogue. For holdings, coverage and references, the catalogue is the authority and a web search is only a pointer to it.
• In What Order Should I Use Discovery?
  Work in this order: research guide, then catalogue search by unit and date, then piece level entries, then viewing or copy arrangements. That order prevents a promising search result from becoming a wasted copy order.