About the National Archives
Of all documents and materials created in the course of business conducted by the United States Federal government, only 1%-3% are so important for legal or historical reasons that they are kept by us forever.
Those valuable records are preserved and are available to you, whether you want to see if they contain clues about your family’s history, need to prove a veteran’s military service, or are researching an historical topic that interests you. Learn more
Spotlight on National Archives History
The National Archives and Records Administration became an independent federal agency in 1985. Learn about how the archives came into independence in a video panel discussion about our journey.
Prologue: NARA's Quarterly Magazine
Current Issue:
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Archival Vintages for The Grapes of Wrath Who were the real people behind Tom Joad and all the others in the John Steinbeck's classic novel of the Great Depression? |
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Camp David For 70 years, Presidents and their families have enjoyed this idyllic retreat in the Maryland mountains. |
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Escorting a Presidency into History When a President leaves office, the National Archives is standing by to take custody of his records, which will help determine how history treats him. |
Legendary Archivist John Taylor Dies at 87
John E. Taylor, an archivist at NARA for 63 years and a legend among those researching World War II and postwar intelligence activities, died September 20, 2008 at his home. He was 87.
