National Archives and Records Administration NARA

History and Founding

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) was established in 1934 as the official recordkeeper of the United States government, though the idea of a national archives dates back at least to 1877, when General Montgomery Meigs proposed a fireproof national Hall of Records following a damaging fire at the Patent Office. Congress passed the Public Buildings Act in 1926, appropriating funds for construction of the National Archives building, designed by architect John Russell Pope in the Neoclassical style. Construction began in 1931 and the building opened in 1935. NARA took its current form as an independent agency in 1985. The iconic National Archives Building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. publicly exhibits the Charters of Freedom, including the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

Collections and Holdings

NARA is one of the largest archives in the world. In the Washington, D.C. area alone, collections total approximately 13.5 billion pieces of paper; 41 million still pictures and graphics; 450 million feet of film; 10 million maps, charts, and architectural plans; 40 million aerial photographs; and substantial electronic records. NARA administers 15 presidential libraries and museums, 15 regional records facilities across the country, and nine affiliated archive facilities. Holdings span from the Revolutionary War era to the recent past and include congressional records, Supreme Court records, military service records, immigration records, and the records of all federal agencies. NARA also held custody of the Iraqi Jewish Archive from 2003 until 2018.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism and Media

NARA holds the Universal Newsreels collection from 1929 to 1967, one of the most significant audiovisual journalism archives in the United States. The collection documents major American and world events through newsreel footage. NARA also holds extensive still photograph collections documenting U.S. government activities, wars, and public events. The records of the Office of War Information and other agencies contain press releases, radio scripts, and media coordination materials. NARA has partnered with Ancestry.com and other organizations to digitize and provide wider access to many collections.

Access and Usage

Research rooms at the National Archives Building (Archives I) in Washington, D.C. are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Archives II in College Park, Maryland, holds additional collections. Many records are available online through the National Archives Catalog. Researchers may submit reference questions by email or phone. The NARA holds annual genealogy fairs and offers extensive educational programming.