In 1970, the editorial of the South African Archives Journal - mouthpiece of the Southern African Society of Archivists, expressed the view that previous attempts towards a national register of manuscripts had not materialised. It noted however, that the South African Government Archives Service was considering this undertaking, and suggested that whenever this register came about, in whatever form, the “key requirement should remain its suitability for complete publication”.

In 1977 the first initiative towards the register came from the Bibliographical Committee of the South African Library Society, when it requested the South African Library to draw up a register of manuscripts and other material in South African libraries. Circulars were sent out to prospective participants and the South African Library produced a guide to its own collection in Cape Town.