State Department Records in the National Archives
What's Online Here?
- Description of how State Department records are organized and what finding aids are available
- Information on how to access these records.
- Search the Diplomatic Records Microfilm Catalog online
- Links to FRUS online, 1861-1960 and 1945 - present.
- Records Relating to World War II Era Refugees
- Foreign Policy/Diplomacy links from the Archives Library Information Center (ALIC).
- View State Department Cables from 1973-75, using AAD
See also the press release. - Read notice about how to access State Department Records that have been withdrawn during declassification review.
The official records of the Department of State are the primary source materials for documenting American foreign policy. Many of the records, reports from American diplomatic and consular representatives, are also useful for the histories of foreign countries and areas.
- Introduction
- I. Central File (Record Group 59)
- II. Office Files, or "Lot Files" (Record Group 59)
- III. Foreign Service Post Files (Record Group 84)
- IV. Other Record Groups (for specialized topics)
- How to Access the Records
Introduction to the Records, and Preparing for Research at NARA
What's Not Online?
- Copies of State Department documents (aside from the small number that have been digitized in ARC).
The information on the following pages describes the State Department records and finding aids in the National Archives, and is essential for understanding before you begin your research, whether you come to NARA in person, whether you attempt to search for descriptions online in the Archival Research Catalog (ARC), or whether you plan to request a specific search by mail.
Although most records in the National Archives are explained in terms of record groups and series, State Department records can instead be divided into four main categories:
- I. Central File (in Record Group 59)
The largest and most important category of State Department records; includes all State Department correspondence with U.S. diplomatic and consular offices in foreign countries, with foreign diplomatic and consular offices in the United States, and other important State Department correspondence and memorandums.
Read more. . .
- II. Office Files, or "Lot Files"
(Also in Record Group 59)
This category is for all of the records originally filed at the State Department, but not in the central file. This includes records of organizational units, records relating to certain functions, special subjects, events or individuals. Read more. . . - III. Foreign Service Post Files
(Record Group 84)
The third main category of records, Foreign Service Post Files, are all of the records originally filed at American embassies nd legations (arranged by country) and consulates (arranged by city). Read more. . . - IV. Other Record Groups (for specialized topics)
The fourth category, Other Record Groups, is for bodies of State Department or related-agency records that are large enough, important enough, or specific enough to have their own record group. Read more. . .
