National Archives Reference Services Historical Research
Program Funding
Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.
Funded Projects
Examples of what this program has supported.
Program Objective
Objectives: To provide professional reference service to members of the general public and employees of the Federal government who are conducting research in Federal records or in historical materials in Presidential Libraries; provide advice and information to the public through conferences, workshops and other outreach activities on the availability and use of Federal records and publications in NARA's custody.
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
- Anyone / general public
Anyone (general public).
Beneficiaries
- 19
Anyone (general public).
How to Apply
Application Procedure
To see records in person, NARA Form 14003, Researcher Application, is required. To obtain information or copies by mail, contact the depository; if a form is required, applicant will be notified. The use of publications, such as microfilm publications of the U.S. Census, does not require the completion of a Researcher Application. Microfilm publications are available in regional facilities in self-service reference rooms. Request for civilian and military personnel records should be addressed to the National Personnel Records Center. Requests for court records should be addressed to the appropriate regional records services facility. Requests for records held in records center operations of the NARA regional records services facility and in the Washington National Records Center should be addressed directly to the agency having legal custody.
Program details & compliance
Use of Funds
Allowed Uses
The assistance provided by NARA is designed to assist the public in obtaining access to information contained in records which are in the custody of the National Archives. Restrictions on the use of accessioned records in the National Archives of the United States are divided into two categories: general restrictions and specific restrictions. General restrictions apply to all records regardless of origin and apply to types of information or classes of records exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, for example, national security information. Specific restrictions are specified by the transferring agency or donor and apply only to records in a particular record group or a portion of that record group. Access to records in the records center operations within NARA's regional records services facilities; in the National Personnel Records Center; and in the Washington National Records Center is controlled by the agency which created the records.
Required Documentation
Photographic identification.