Students
Essay Contest
- Students from Waltham can now participate in the
Historic Waltham Essay Contest, June 1 - August 10, 2007
More
Federal archival documents located at Boston, MA, are a wealth of primary source material that can be useful for student research of many kinds. These records have been used by students as the foundation of extensive research projects, as a resource for answering or illustrating specific questions, and for supplementing other sources.
Federal Records at Boston, MA
We have the records of regional offices of 90 Federal agencies and the Federal courts located in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) from 1789 to the 1970s. These records are especially useful for exploring regional aspects of historical events.
Typical types of federal records at Boston, MA, and examples:
- Records about individuals
- census records
- tax records
- draft records
- naturalization records
- Administrative records
- Correspondence
- Financial
- Personnel: for example, letters from the Commandant of the Boston Naval Shipyard
- Records that document an action or process
- Collecting customs duties
- Researching radar technology
- Building a dam
- Records with legal or evidential value
- Court case files
- Contracts
- Records relating to the sale of public property such as former Nike missile sites
- Records that document activities related to major historical events
- 1st Naval District operations logs during WWII
- 1st Naval District operations logs during WWII
For more information and ideas about topics that can be researched at NARA, see Research by Selected Topic
How to Find Material for Research- Learn how to Get Started doing
research at NARA facilities.
- For help with concepts and terms unique to archival research, see
Research Tips
- See For the Public Access to Documents: Historical
Documents for an introduction to the kinds of archival records
located at Boston.
- Try browsing through Selected Finding Aids
for records at Boston, MA, especially the Guide to Archival Holdings at NARA's
Northeast Region and NARA's online catalog, ARC (Please note that ARC is not
fully populated at this time and does not represent the entire holdings of any
branch of NARA).
- The archives staff can help. Call toll free 866-406-2379 or
email waltham.archives@nara.gov and be
ready to explain your topic, including the time period, geographic location,
and what you hope to be able to find.
Student Resources Beyond Research
- How to cite NARA records
- High school history students:
Learn about National History Day and find out what you can do with your research. National Archives staff also help to judge contests in every New England state, and award "Best Use of Primary Resources" certificates. - Apply for an Internship: Gain valuable practical experience from
Volunteering and Internships at Boston
- Learn more about NARA and why it keeps federal records. What is The National Archives & Records Administration?
