The Yellowstone National Park Archives maintains collections of records that document how the national park idea developed in Yellowstone after the park’s establishment, how policies for managing the world’s first national park were developed and how they continue to develop today. The Yellowstone National Park Archives collections are made up of the administrative records of the world’s first national park, resource management records that document how the natural and cultural resources are protected, records from major projects that have occurred in the park, the records of park concessionaires, donated manuscripts and personal papers, and several hundred films and oral history recordings. Detailed descriptions and finding aids for Yellowstone’s archive collections can be found below or at the Heritage and Research Center in Gardiner, MT.

The Yellowstone National Park Archives is an affiliated archive of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Through a 1978 cooperative agreement between Yellowstone National Park and the National Archives, permanent federal records created in the administration of the park remain in Yellowstone instead of following normal records disposition schedules, which would result in records being transferred to National Archives regional records centers far away from the park. While legal custody of these records belongs to NARA, physical custody is kept by Yellowstone National Park to allow researchers to have the best access to both current and historical resources in one location. As a result of this arrangement, Yellowstone’s archives are required to meet the National Archives’ standards for proper storage, care, and access to federal records. The park’s affiliated archives are inspected each year by a representative of the National Archives to ensure compliance with these standards and procedures. 

Using the Archives

Unlike a library, an archive repository does not have a card catalogue or any other single means for finding needed information. Records (which are mostly files) are stored in document boxes in as near as possible the order in which the records were created. The boxes are then stored on shelves beside the records created by the same division or office at other dates. Finding information in the Yellowstone Archives requires knowledge of the park’s organization at various periods, of successive filing systems, and of the eccentricities of Yellowstone’s own records and the people who have taken care of them over the years. For all of these reasons and more (security, for example) “browsing” is neither practical nor permissible in the Yellowstone Archives or in any other professionally managed archives. The archives staff will bring requested files to the library reading room for use. Files do not circulate or leave the library reading room.     

Archives can be an immensely useful source for people pursuing a well-defined topic and having a fairly large amount of time for research. Unlike much of the material in a library, the archives contain almost only primary source material, the documents from which history is often written.The books and articles about Yellowstone kept in the library are the best place to start research and may help narrow a topic to the point at which the archives can be useful.After using these secondary sources, review the finding aids and inventories (lists of the records we have organized under broad topics) listed below, or discuss the topic with the park archivist, to come up with a list of the boxes of documents or rolls of microfilm from the archives that are most likely to have the needed information. Due to limited staffing, archives staff cannot conduct research or accommodate copying requests.

If you are interested in researching the photo archives, please contact the museum curatorial staff at 307-344-2662.

National Park Service Records – Updated
Administration and Management Records Inventory – Updated!
Concessions Records Inventory – Updated
Development and Maintenance Records Inventory
Fiscal Records Inventory
History and Archeology Records Inventory –Updated!
Interpretation and Information Records Inventory – Updated!
Lands and Recreation Planning Records Inventory – Updated!
Natural and Social Sciences Records Inventory – Updated!
Personnel Records Inventory
Supplies, Procurement, and Property Records Inventory
Law Enforcement and Legal Matters Records Inventory
Forestry Records Inventory – Updated!

Oral Histories Inventory – Updated!
Coleman Papers Finding Aid (57 Kb pdf)
Films Collection Finding Aid (287 Kb pdf)
1998 Fire Records Finding Aid (2.2 MB pdf)

Coming soon:

Special Collections

Manuscripts and Personal Papers
Assembled Collections of Research Materials

Maps and Architectural Drawings

Films and Videos

Concessionaire Records (including the Yellowstone Park Company)

Pre-National Park Service Records Finding Aid

*** Photo archive information can be obtained by contacting the museum curatorial staff at 307-344-2662. ***