Services for the Public
Historical Research
Original records
NARA's Pacific Region (San Francisco) has more than 48,000 cubic feet of archival holdings dating from 1850 to the 1980s, including textual documents, photographs, maps, and architectural drawings. These archival holdings were created or received by the Federal courts and more than 100 Federal agencies in northern California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada (except Clark County), American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Federal law requires that agencies transfer permanently valuable, noncurrent records to NARA.
Among the subjects covered are Chinese exclusion and immigration, the development of Pearl Harbor and mainland coastal fortifications, former World War II defense sites, public land use, national forests, migrant labor camps, and tribal history.
The archival holdings are arranged by record group (abbreviated RG), a body of records from an agency or bureau identified by an RG number. Selected finding aids, including a comprehensive guide to archival holdings, are available by mail and online. Research can be initiated in person, or by telephone, mail, or e-mail. Individuals who wish to use archival holdings on-site will facilitate their research by calling before visiting. If the number of researchers exceeds research room capacity, those with appointments will receive priority.
Before using archival holdings, every researcher must obtain a researcher identification card. An applicant must show identification that includes a photograph, such as a driver's license, school or business identification card, or passport, and complete a short form giving name, address, telephone number, and brief description of the research topic. A researcher ID card, valid for 3 years and renewable, is then issued. It must be presented during each research visit.
Microfilmed records
In addition to unique original records, the San Bruno facility has extensive holdings of National Archives microfilm publications. These publications reproduce basic documentation for the study of history, economics, public administration, political science, law, ethnology, genealogy, and other subjects. Included are records relating to U.S. diplomacy, the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and Reconstruction, Native American-Government relations, westward expansion, Asian immigration, and World War II.
Self-service microfilm readers and reader-printers are available without appointment. A 2-hour limit is imposed when researchers are waiting.
