The U.S. National Archives Preserves and Provides Access to 250 Years of U.S. History by NARA Archivist Claire Kluskens
February 6, 2025 clairekluskens NARAancestry, archives, family history, genealogical research, genealogy, history, NARA, National Archives, National Archives and Records Administration, research
The National Archives is much more than the iconic Greek-revival style building situated on Pennsylvania Avenue near the National Mall.
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) holds in trust for the American people the permanently valuable records of the U.S. federal government that show our shared history over the past 250 years. NARA preserves and provides access to documents about the decisions and actions of government, rights of individuals (such as citizenship), or otherwise have sufficient historical or other value to warrant continued preservation. Genealogists, military veterans, historians, lawyers, and other researchers find the records essential to their research. Information about newly digitized records in the National Archives Catalog can be found at “What’s New in the National Archives Catalog.”
NARA preserves:
11.9 billion pages of historic textual (paper records);
10 million maps, charts, and architectural and engineering drawings;
40 million still photographs, digital images, filmstrips, and other graphics;
40 million aerial photographs dating to the 1930s;
448 million feet of motion picture film;
992,000 video and sound recordings; and
837 terabytes of electronic data
The National Archives does this at different and necessary facilities that each hold unique records found nowhere else:
National Archives Building (Archives 1) and National Archives at College Park, MD (Archives 2) in the Washington, DC, area
12 regional archival facilities in or near major cities
17 presidential libraries (14 physical, 3 virtual) for 20th century presidents since Herbert Hoover
17 federal record centers for some temporary and some permanent records, and the
2 National Personnel Records Centers (Military) and (Civilian)
NARA has a staff of about 2,800 persons who are dedicated to serving the American people. Staff who work with the public develop expertise in specific bodies of records. Other staff have technical experience and knowledge that supports our mission to preserve the records and provide the public access to them. Learn more by reading a few employee profiles.
Congress established the National Archives nearly 90 years ago by a law known as the “The National Archives Act of 1934” that was signed on June 19, 1934. Since April 1, 1985, NARA has been governed by the “The National Archives and Records Administration Act of 1984” that was signed by President Ronald Reagan.
