Research at the National Archives
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We have so many records that...

documents circling earth

Laid side to side, pages in our holdings would circle the Earth over 57 times! Because of the cost to digitize such a volume of materials, only a small percentage is available for research online. Our web site offers tools and guides to help you locate these documents. To complete your research and use the records, you may need to visit us.

What's Available Online?

What's online?Start here to examine some of our online resources!

  • Some records are online. See our checklist of places on this web site that provide records online.
  • Information about the records. Research your topic before you visit us to see the records.
  • Ways to order copies of records.

Online Research Tools

Read more about each

What's Next? Visit Us

Researchers at the Regional Archives in Anchorage, Alaska.

Even if you find information about records on our web site, to complete your research and use the records, you may need to visit us or hire an independent researcher.
Learn more

Help Us Recover Lost and Stolen Documents
Plan Your Research Trip

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More information on Adobe Acrobat PDF files is available on our Accessibility page.

Please note!Research Rooms at the National Archives in College Park, MD, will be closed from 5 p.m. on Friday, August 21 through August 23.

Notice

Note:  The Research Rooms at the National Archives in College Park, MD, will be closed from 5 p.m. on Friday, August 21 through August 23, for repair of the water lines. Research rooms will reopen on Monday, August 24. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Digitized Reproductions are Here!

  • You can now receive your pension files, naturalization records, court records and a number of other documents in a digital format. Our entire microfilm publication offering can also now be digitized for your convenience.

Records Temporarily Unavailable

  • Attention Researchers:
    The "Sarah Clark Files" in RG 342 (Entry 1001), will be closed as of Monday, June 16, 2008, and will remain closed for about one year as they are reboxed, organized, and new finding aids are created.

What's New?

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001
Telephone: 1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272