The National Archives—the Nation’s Official Record Keeper
Why is it important to know about the National Archives?
When requesting information from the Federal Government, it is essential to understand how your veteran’s records can be accessed.
One of the primary government agencies you will need to know about is the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), frequently referred to as the National Archives. An independent federal agency of the United States government, NARA is the principal repository (online and brick-and-mortar) where important government documents are housed. Records available at NARA can provide valuable information about your veteran’s military service.
Since its creation in 1934, NARA has served as the nation’s official record keeper, safeguarding and providing public access to billions of records from all three branches of the United States government. According to information found on the National Archives Foundation website (https://www.archivesfoundation.org/about-the-archives/), records at NARA include 12 billion sheets of paper, 40 million photographs, miles and miles of video and film, and more than 5.3 billion electronic records. These records are stored in facilities nationwide, including two in Washington, DC, fourteen area buildings, seventeen Federal Records Centers, thirteen Presidential libraries, and the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis, Missouri.
The National Archives building in Washington, D.C., is the headquarters of the United States National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Photo by David Samuel.
While it is possible to visit many of the National Archive’s buildings, you can also access extensive information and documents on their website. This is where I found my father’s POW files, enlistment documents, and instructions to request his Official Military Personnel File. The amount of information on the National Archives website is phenomenal.
The National Archives website can be accessed online at: www.archives.gov