{"id":835,"date":"2024-11-21T16:41:12","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T16:41:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/national-archives.go-vip.net\/?page_id=835"},"modified":"2025-06-19T12:12:10","modified_gmt":"2025-06-19T12:12:10","slug":"about-reference-codes","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/nationalarchives.ie\/ga\/help-with-research\/referencing-archives\/about-reference-codes\/","title":{"rendered":"About reference codes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<section id=\"block-block_176cf2021b6e0b77f4b204f55ea30965\" class=\"landing-page-header-block title-width-default block-color-green block-row-02-type-share block-row-02-share-position-bottom intro-full-width\" data-style=\"style-11\">    \n\n\t<div class=\"header \">\n\n\t\t\t\t\n<div class=\"translation-notice\">\n        <div class=\"inner container\">\n            <p><strong>Cuirfear aistri\u00fach\u00e1n ar f\u00e1il go luath<\/strong><\/p>\n            <p>\u00c1r leithsc\u00e9al as an m\u00edchaoithi\u00falacht. Cuirfear aistri\u00fach\u00e1n Gaeilge ar an leathanach seo ar f\u00e1il go luath. Go raibh maith agat as do chuid foighneachta agus muid ag obair ar leagan uasd\u00e1taithe.<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"intro\">\n\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"heading-0\">About reference codes<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<!-- mobile -->\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"header-row-02\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"share\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"share-button pulse fade-in\" data-js=\"share-button\">SHARE<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text h3\"><p>Reference codes are unique identifiers for documents at the National Archives. They are essential for security, preventing duplication and ensuring consistent cataloguing. They are also useful to researchers as a way to keep track of the archives they visit. <\/p>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/section>\n\n\t<span class=\"notification-top\" data-js=\"share-copied\">URL copied to clipboard<\/span>\n\n\n<section id=\"block-block_475ab0b883425f075557b3a397a27003\" class=\"content-tile-block nai-block margin-top-small margin-bottom-none image_right text-regular text-black bg-white no-border-top smaller-heading\" data-layout=\"layout-1-2\">        \n\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"content\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image\" data-image=\"cover\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"text\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text-content cms-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A reference code uniquely identifies a document or related documents.<\/p>\n<p>These codes can be numeric or alphanumeric.<\/p>\n<p>2015\/77\/86 points to file 86 from the Secretary General to the President. This file was the 77th transfer to the National Archives in 2015.<\/p>\n<p>Older files might have codes like CSO\/RP\/1822\/17, which refers to file 17 from the Chief Secretary\u2019s Office Registered Papers for 1822.<\/p>\n<h3>Benefit of reference codes<\/h3>\n<p>Every record sent to the National Archives needs a unique code. This is vital for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Security: It protects the document.<\/li>\n<li>Avoiding Duplication: It prevents confusion by avoiding number repeats.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Standard for cataloguing<\/h3>\n<p>The National Archives follows the ISAD(G) standard for cataloguing. This international standard, set by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ica.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">International Council on Archives<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It ensures key information is recorded and helps researchers see if a record is useful for their work.<\/p>\n<h3>Using reference codes in your research<\/h3>\n<p>For a successful research experience, we strongly advise you to keep track of all the archives you review. This can be done by noting their reference codes and sources.<\/p>\n<p>This practice will streamline your research. It will also maximise the value of the National Archives&#8217; rich resources.<\/p>\n<p>Keeping track of the archives you visit offers several benefits to your research.<\/p>\n<h3>Effortless retracing<\/h3>\n<p>Easily retrace your steps if you need to revisit or verify information, which will save you time and effort.<\/p>\n<h3>Accurate referencing<\/h3>\n<p>Ensure your references are precise and reliable, this will enhance the credibility of your research.<\/p>\n<h3>Enhanced support<\/h3>\n<p>Allow the staff at the National Archives to assist you more effectively with any queries, which will make your research journey smoother.<\/p>\n<h3>Streamlined workflow<\/h3>\n<p>Avoid unnecessary complications and stay organised, allowing you to focus on your research goals.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ctas\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"primary-button color-default size-default\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalarchives.ie\/ga\/plan-a-visit\/\" target=\"\">Plan a visit<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"21\" height=\"21\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 21\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M8.13743 5.21478C7.812 4.88934 7.28436 4.88934 6.95892 5.21478C6.63348 5.54022 6.63348 6.06786 6.95892 6.39329L11.3697 10.804L6.95892 15.2148C6.63348 15.5402 6.63348 16.0679 6.95892 16.3933C7.28436 16.7187 7.812 16.7187 8.13743 16.3933L13.1374 11.3933C13.4629 11.0679 13.4629 10.5402 13.1374 10.2148L8.13743 5.21478Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>    \n<\/section>\n\n<section id=\"block-block_90d176aa314d8976ef3d7d47a78234aa\" class=\"cards-row-block nai-block margin-top-default margin-bottom-default numbers-columns-2 images-ratio-landscape\">\n    <div class=\"container\">          \n            <header class=\"section-header-component\">\n        <div class=\"header-content\">                \n            <h2 class=\"h2\">Related content<\/h2>            \n                                                <\/div>\n    <\/header>     \n            <section class=\"cards\">\n                                    <article class=\"card-component fade-in\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/nationalarchives.ie\/ga\/help-with-research\/how-to-handle-archives\/\" title=\"Correct citation for publications\">\n                                                                                                                \n                            <div class=\"intro no-pb\">\n                                                                <h3 class=\"\">Correct citation for publications<\/h3>                                <p>This page provides information on which citation to use, and how to cite it correctly during research.<\/p>                    \n                                                            <\/div>\n                        <\/a>\n                    <\/article>\n                            <\/section>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":1936,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-835","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - 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