Uttar Pradesh State Archives

Overview

The Uttar Pradesh State Archives is the principal state-level archival institution for the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, situated in Lucknow. Operating under the Culture Department of the Uttar Pradesh government, the archives preserves public records, historical documents, and manuscripts of administrative and cultural significance, and provides research and outreach services to scholars and the public.

History and Founding

The archives was established in 1949 within the office of the Director of Education, Uttar Pradesh, in Allahabad (now Prayagraj). In April 1951 a separate building was allotted at 53, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Allahabad. The institution relocated to a newly constructed building at B-44, Mahanagar Extension, Lucknow in July 1973, designed as a functional archival facility with modern equipment for the maintenance, preservation, and repair of records. From 1973 the archives expanded, establishing Regional Archives at Allahabad (1973), Varanasi (1976), and other locations across the state. A Manuscript Library was also established at Allahabad in 1973.

Collections and Holdings

The Uttar Pradesh State Archives holds records divided into pre-1857 and post-1858 categories, the latter reflecting the period when Allahabad was designated capital of the North-Western Provinces. Holdings include land and revenue records, court records, administrative records of various collectorates and divisions, and a growing collection of digitized materials. The archives has undertaken significant digitization through the National Informatics Centre, digitizing hundreds of thousands of records from Revenue, Tehri Garwal, Almora, and other departments. A Manuscript Resource Center (MRC) was established in 2022 in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi. The total sanctioned staff of the headquarters and regional offices is 111 posts.

Outreach and Exhibitions

The Uttar Pradesh State Archives is active in public outreach, regularly organizing archival exhibitions on themes from UP history including the 1857 uprising, freedom fighters such as Bhagat Singh and Chandra Shekhar Azad, the Kakori train action, and cultural subjects. These exhibitions have been held at venues across the state.

Access and Usage

Researchers and academics wishing to consult records can contact the archives by email. On-site research is available at the headquarters in Lucknow and at regional offices in Agra and Varanasi. The basic catalogue is accessible through the official website.