The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation’s record keeper. 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.
Mission
We drive openness, cultivate public participation, and strengthen our nation’s democracy through public access to high-value government records.
Our Mission is to provide public access to Federal Government records in our custody and control. Public access to government records strengthens democracy by allowing Americans to claim their rights of citizenship, hold their government accountable, and understand their history so they can participate more effectively in their government.
Vision
We will be known for cutting-edge access to extraordinary volumes of government information and unprecedented engagement to bring greater meaning to the American experience.
Our Vision is to transform the American public’s relationship with their government, with archives as a relevant and vital resource. This vision harnesses the opportunities to collaborate with other Federal agencies, the private sector, and the public to offer information—including records, data, and context—when, where, and how it is needed. We will lead the archival and information professions to ensure archives thrive in a digital world.
Values
- Collaborate: Create an open, inclusive work environment that is built on respect, communication, integrity, and collaborative teamwork.
- Innovate: Encourage creativity and invest in innovation to build our future.
- Learn: Pursue excellence through continuous learning and become smarter all the time about what we know and what we do in service to others.
Our Values reflect our shared aspirations that support and encourage our long-standing commitment to public service, openness and transparency, and the government records that we hold in trust.”
History
Congress established the National Archives in 1934 to preserve and care for the records of the U.S. Government. Previously, Federal records were kept in various basements, attics, abandoned buildings, and other storage places with little security or concern for storage conditions. In 1935, Archives staff began to survey Federal records and the next year began transferring records to the new National Archives building in Washington, DC. From one building on Pennsylvania Avenue, the National Archives now has over 40 facilities nationwide including field archives, Federal Records Centers, Presidential Libraries, the Federal Register, and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
The National Archives History Office preserves and promotes the history of the National Archives.
Annual Performance Plans
Performance Budget
