Alabama Department of Archives and History: America's First State Archives Agency

Overview

The Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH) is the official archival agency of the State of Alabama, located at 624 Washington Avenue in Montgomery. Founded in 1901, it was the first publicly funded, independent state archives agency in the United States and has subsequently served as a model for the establishment of archives in other states. ADAH identifies, preserves, and makes accessible records and artifacts of enduring historical value to the state, and serves as the official repository for records created by Alabama's state agencies.

History and Founding

Thomas McAdory Owen, a historian and lawyer, was the driving force behind ADAH's creation. In 1900, he submitted a comprehensive 447-page report to Governor William J. Samford recommending the establishment of a state department of archives and history. Owen drafted the enabling legislation, which was signed into law by Governor Samford on February 27, 1901. Owen was elected the agency's first director on March 2, 1901, and initially operated the archives from the Senate cloakroom in the State Capitol. He collected broadly, acquiring personal papers, artifacts, political ephemera, manuscripts, and Civil War battle flags. Following Owen's death in 1920, his wife Marie Bankhead Owen succeeded him and served as director until 1955. Her most lasting contribution was securing federal funding for the construction of the World War Memorial Building — the Archives' permanent home — which opened to national acclaim in 1940. The agency has had six directors in total, with Steve Murray serving as director since August 2012.

Collections and Holdings

ADAH holds an extensive collection of public and private records, manuscripts, photographs, maps, and artifacts relating to Alabama history. Notable holdings include the official papers of every Alabama governor from 1819 to the present, an extensive collection related to Governor George Wallace, and the principal repository of historic state newspapers, as well as microfilmed county records from across the state. The agency is also the official repository for records transferred from state agencies once they are no longer actively needed.

Journalism and Media Relevance

ADAH is the principal repository of historic Alabama newspapers and is particularly valuable for researchers in Southern press history, civil rights era media, and state political communications. Its digitised collections include photographs and other materials accessible through its online portal. The department has developed extensive educational resources for secondary schools on Alabama history.

Access and Usage

ADAH is open to the public and offers on-site research facilities at its Montgomery location. The agency's website (archives.alabama.gov) provides finding aids, digitised images, and educational resources. Researchers can contact the reference department by email or phone. The Archives is governed by a geographically representative Board of Trustees, with the Governor serving in an ex-officio capacity.