Washington National Records Center, Suitland, MD
Services for the Public
Introduction
The Washington National Records Center (WNRC) provides reference services for records of Federal agencies located in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.
WNRC is the first stop for records after they are no longer actively used by the Federal agency of origin. WNRC also has records of Federal Courts located in the District of Columbia and serves the Armed Forces worldwide.
Agency records stay at the WNRC, where they are tracked through an automated database, until they are either destroyed through recycling or accepted by NARA as permanent records. Access to most records stored at the facility is controlled by the agency of origin, however court records are open to the public.
Researching and Accessing Court Records
Closed civil and criminal case records of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Court of Claims, and Court of Appeals are available for public research at the WNRC.
Order Copies
Photocopying Costs Rise
Effective October 1, 2007, fees have increased for reproductions at all National Archives facilities, including for all
commonly-requested genealogical records.
We have the following Court Records Order forms online:
Contact Delander H. Reid * at the Reference Services Branch for mail and fax services.
* Please do not send credit card information via e-mail. See our Privacy Policy.
Visit Us
All researchers must present personal identification when entering the building. To review and/or photocopy court case files at the WNRC, follow the steps below:
- Contact the appropriate court
- Obtain case information from court
- Schedule an appointment
- Confirm case is available
- Review case at WNRC
STEP 1. Contact the appropriate court.
U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
3rd and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 354-3069 or (202) 354-3080U.S. COURT OF CLAIMS
Room 103
717 Madison Place, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 273-0305U.S. COURT OF APPEALS
Office of the Clerk
3rd and Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 219-9561
STEP 2. Obtain case information from court
Obtain the following information from the court where the needed cases were filed and closed. You must obtain this information for all the case files you need to review and photocopy:
- Case File Number
- Case File Name
- Accession Number
- Box Number
- Center Location Number
STEP 3. Schedule an appointment
Telephone the Reference Services Branch's Research Room at (301) 778-1520 and give the attendant the following information:
- All the information obtained in STEP 2 above.
- Your Name and Daytime Telephone Number.
- The Date and Time You Want to Review the Case(s).
The WNRC needs at least 24 hours advance notice to schedule a review. The research room is open from Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Reviews will be scheduled to start at 8:00 a.m. and end by 4:00 p.m. The WNRC is closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.
STEP 4. Confirm case is available
You may confirm that the case(s) was located and is available for review by calling the Research Room at (301) 778-1520 on the day the review is scheduled. Please keep your appointment.
After 3 days, the records are returned to file. Please note, if the records are returned to file, you must resubmit your request (Begin again at Step 3).
STEP 5. Review case at WNRC
WNRC staff will copy Court records for you at a cost of $.90 per page. You may pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card for the exact number of copies.
Additionally, we can certify copies of court records made in the research room at a cost of $15.00 per certification. Please note that photocopies of records cannot be certified after they are removed from the research room.
Researching Federal agency records at the WNRC
The transferring agency, as the legal custodian, controls access to the records. A written request and authorization must be obtained from the transferring agency before the records can be used. The written request and authorization must reach the Reference Services Branch at least one day before the researcher's visit, and written authorization must include the following information:
- Transfer number
- Records center location
- Box number
- File designation of the requested records
- Written evidence of security clearance if the records are classified
All researchers must present personal identification upon entering the WNRC. Contact the Reference Services Branch * at (301) 778-1510 for further information.
The Transfer and Disposition Branch controls the inventory of the agency records stored at the WNRC. Researchers may use the unclassified Standard Forms (SF) 135, Records Transmittal and Receipt and box lists, if available. If photocopies of SFs 135 are required, WNRC staff will copy the documents for you at a cost of $.50 per page. You may pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card for the exact number of copies you need. Contact the Transfer and Disposition Branch * at (301) 778-1650 for further information.
Photocopies of Federal agency record may be purchased one of three ways (please note that these fees DO NOT apply to Court records at the WNRC):
- $.10 per page using a self-service copier which is attached to a debit card machine. The copier accepts a debit card which you may purchase for a minimum of one dollar. The debit card machine accepts one, five, or ten dollar bills. Any unused monies on debit cards may be used on subsequent trips to any National Archives Research Room. Refunds cannot be given on debit cards.
- $.10 per page by paying the research room attendant for each copy you produce. You may pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card for the exact number of copies.
- WNRC staff will copy the documents for you at a cost of $.50 per page. You may pay by cash, check, money order, or credit card for the exact number of copies.
* Please see our Privacy Statement
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