Historical Research at NARA's Laguna Niguel facility
NARA's Pacific Region (Laguna Niguel) has more than 35,000 cubic feet of archival holdings dating from about l850 to the l980s. In addition to textual records there are architectural drawings, maps, and photographs. These holdings were created or received by the Federal courts and over 50 Federal agencies in Arizona, southern California, and Clark County, Nevada. Federal law requires that agencies transfer permanently valuable, noncurrent records to NARA.
Among the subjects covered are:
- private land claims of the Spanish and Mexican periods in California history;
- the opening of the public domain to homestead settlement;
- the impact of the railroads on native American life and culture;
- ethnic diversity, Chinese exclusion, and immigration and naturalization;
- the maritime industry and its development;
- the buildup of coastal defenses and military bases since the Spanish-American War;
- the growth of the naval bases and their relationship to and impact on local communities;
- the development of Corps of Engineers civil works projects relating to flood control, beach erosion control, pollution abatement, and the uses of navigable waterways;
The archival holdings are arranged by record group (RG), a body of records from an agency or bureau, identified by an RG number. Selected finding aids, including a comprehensive guide to the archival holdings, are available by mail and online.
Research can be initiated in person, or by telephone, mail, fax, or electronic mail at laguna.archives@nara.gov. Individuals who wish to use archival holdings on site will facilitate their research by calling before visiting.
