National Archives and Records Administration Catalog

National Archives Catalog
"The National Archives Catalog is the online catalog of NARA's nationwide holdings in the Washington, DC area, Regional Archives and Presidential Libraries." Not all of NARA's records are described in the catalog, but NARA is working towards complete coverage. Researchers can search the catalog by keyword, dates, person name, topic, physical location of records, and digitized images. Most records descripted are at the series level within record groups. The catalog search results also include scanned textual images, webpages; maps, photographs, motion pictures, blog posts,etc.

"How to Search in the catalog" for more details. "Catalog Guide for Genealogists and Family Historians" contains guidance specific for genealogists.
 * Using the National Archives Catalog Steps and guidelines in accessing record descriptions.
 * National Archives Catalog Search Tips What Does the catalog Search ?
 * National Archives Catalog Guide for Genealogists and Family Historians Includes Tips for Searching and Individual's Name; Tips for Searching By Topic; Suggested Keywords


 * Claire Prechtel Kluskens. The National Archives Catalog. NGS Magazine 43 # 3 (October-December, 2017): 40- 43.

Search Results

 * Search Results can be filtered, refined or sorted in multiple ways.
 *  Filters: Top of Page Include: All (search results); Available Online (Descriptions with Digitized Copies of Records); Web Pages (Archives.gov pages); Documents(Digitized Textual Records); Images (Digitized Photographs & Maps); Videos (Digitized Motion Pictures)
 * Refinement By The Column on the left on the search results
 * Data Source: Archival Descriptions with Digital Descriptions; Archives.gov (webpages); Archival Descriptions; Authority Records (Organization and Person Name Authority)
 * Refine by Level of Description: Item, File unit; Series; Collection
 * Refine By Type of Materials: Textual; Moving Images; Photographs and Other Graphic Materials; Maps and Carts; Architectural and Engineering Drawings; Sound Recordings; Artifacts
 * Refine By File Format: Image (JPG); Portable Document File (MP4); ASCII Text; Image (GIF); MS Excel Spreadsheet; Audio Visual File; text cvs; Microsoft word document; Compressed (ZIP) file, etc.
 * Refine By Location:
 * Refine By Record Group/Collection
 * Refine By Date: Date Range

 Sort By  Relevance; Title; National Archives Identifier; Local Identifier; HMS Entry Number (Preliminary Inventory)


 * HMS Entry Number – An inventory or preliminary inventory is a finding aid, and generally includes a brief administrative history of the organization(s) as well as series descriptions of their records. Inventory Entry Numbers were formerly called Inventory Identifiers.

Field Names Displayed for Record Series Search Results
These fields are displayed when you click a record series in the search results.  Additional Information About this Series  Details Scope & Content  Variant Control Numbers   Archived Copies
 * Series: Name and Date Range
 * National Archives Identifier (NAID): A unique number assigned to a Record Group, Series, File Unit or Item in the catalog.
 * Creator(s): Name of creating government agencies
 * From: Record Group No and Name
 * Level of Description: Series, File Unit, or Item
 * Type(s) of Archival Materials
 * The creator compiled or maintained the series between: Date Range
 * Includes: # of file unite(s) described in the catalog - Search within this series (Search Within Mode)
 * Search Within this Record Group - XXX series described in the catalog
 * Search Within this Series -xxx file unit(s) described in the catalog
 * Arrangement: How the records are arranged
 * Access Restriction(s): Unrestricted, restricted,
 * Use Restriction(s):
 * Custodial History:
 * A general description of the series content
 * ARC Identifier: Archival Research Catalog Number
 * HMS/MLR Entry Number : Reference Number to the Preliminary Inventory
 * Copy 1 Media Information: Specific Media Type
 * Extent Size: linear feet and inches
 * Contact(s) Archival location of the collection. Includes address, including phone, fax, e-mail address
 * Count: number of boxes, folders, cards,etc
 * Copy 1: Media Information: Specific Media Type: Paper, photograph,etc.

Record Hierarchy in the Online Catalog

 * The Record Hierarchy will display in the column to the left for each searies or file unit displayed
 * Record Group (RG) number – A record group is a grouping created by NARA that comprises the records of a government bureau or agency.
 * Record Series Records that are created by the same activity or function. Most of the records described in the catalog are at the series level.
 * File Unit An organized set of records that are grouped together.
 * Item A single item, a textual document, report, photograph, map, etc.


 * Additional: Citizen Archivist: transcriptions, tags, comments
 * Download images
 * Digital images will only be attached at the file or item level