Maharashtra State Archives Directorate of Archives, Government of Maharashtra

Overview

The Maharashtra State Archives (MSA), officially the Directorate of Archives, is the central archival agency of the Government of Maharashtra, India. Located in south Mumbai's business district and housed within the historic Elphinstone College building, it is one of the most important repositories of colonial and post-colonial administrative records in South Asia. Its holdings span over three centuries, from 1630 to the mid-20th century, making it an indispensable resource for historians of western India, the Indian Ocean world, and the British Empire.

History and Founding

The origins of the Maharashtra State Archives lie in the East India Company's Bombay Presidency. A General Record Office was established in 1820–1821 under instructions from Fort William; the Bombay Record Office was formally established in August 1821 to receive and deposit records from the Secretariat and other offices in the Presidency Town. William Wissencraft served as the first Record Keeper. The archives grew as the colonial administration expanded. After Indian independence and the creation of Maharashtra State in 1960, the institution was reorganized as the Directorate of Archives. Regional offices have since been opened in Pune, Kolhapur, Aurangabad, and Nagpur.

Collections and Holdings

The MSA holds over 500,000 files of colonial records plus additional manuscript and printed materials. Holdings include:

• Pre-1820 records: Approximately 7,000 volumes of diaries and copies of East India Company documents.
• Post-1820 records: Approximately 200,000 compilation volumes up to 1912, and approximately 400,000 loose files to 1920.
• Departmental records: Covering Ecclesiastical, Financial, General, Judicial, Commercial, Military, Political, Revenue, and Secret Departments.
• Maps: Approximately 20,000 old maps of Bombay Presidency, Mumbai Island, and surrounding areas, including railway line plans.
• Newspapers: English, Gujarati-, and Marathi-medium newspapers spanning roughly 150 years, including Kesari (Marathi), Janshakti (Gujarati), and the Bombay Chronicle (English).
• Private records: Historical family papers from the Patwardhans of Sangli, Manes of Mhaswad, Mohites of Raigaon, and others in Modi script or Persian.
• Government publications: Gazettes, legislative debates, annual reports, and civil lists.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism and Media

The newspaper collection is of particular significance for media historians. It includes several hundred years of print materials from western India, notably the complete or near-complete runs of major Bombay newspapers and vernacular periodicals. The Bombay Chronicle has been partially digitized. Catalogues of books and journals published in Bombay provide important historical indexes of the colonial print industry.

Access and Usage

The archive is open to researchers. A computerized catalogue is partially available. Visitors may photograph files for a small fee. The archive holds reading rooms and reference services. A planned future relocation to a new air-conditioned building in Bandra has been discussed.