Each year in October, the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration celebrates American Archives Month to raise awareness about the value of Archives and archivists. This year the theme is Archives Across America and will include taking a closer look at all the National Archives around the country – that means the National Archives at College Park here in Maryland!
The National Archive
Established in 1934, the National Archives serves as the official repository for all federal records judged to be of enduring value. Its holdings date from the 18th century to the present and include the famous Charters of Freedom – the original Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
The National Archive at College Park
The College Park location holds civilian and military records as well as special visual units in cartography, Electronic and Special Media Records, the Motion Picture, Sound and Video unit, and the Still Pictures unit.
PRESERVATION MARYLAND ARCHIVE
As the second oldest statewide preservation organization in the nation, Preservation Maryland has a long history that runs parallel to the history of the domestic practice of historic preservation itself. Our organizational archive is held at the Hornbake Library at the University of Maryland and is available to students and researches interested in history and architecture in Maryland. The collection was recently assessed by Jennifer Wachtel, a graduate student at the University, to help catalog and provide access to its resources.