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. The following archive webpages will help you locate National Archive collections using the online catalog.
 * "About the catalog," The National Archives Archives.gov
 * 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

This webpage will help you begin searching in the catalog.
 * "Search the National Archives Catalog Enter Keywords in the catalog search box.

Sample Search Results
This image shows search results for the term "1940 Census":

The search results can be modified using filters, facets, and sorting.
 *  Filters: are listed at the top of page
 * All (all search results found)
 * Available Online (descriptions with digitized copies of records)
 * Web Pages (at Archives.gov)
 * Documents (digitized textual records)
 * Images (digitized photographs & maps)
 * Videos (digitized motion pictures)
 * Facets: are listed in the left side of the search results and help you refine your results
 * Refine By: Data Source - Archival Descriptions with Digital Object; 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 Records, Data Files, Moving Images, Photographs and Other Graphic Materials, Maps and Carts, Architectural and Engineering Drawings, Sound Recordings, Artifacts, etc.
 * Refine By: File Format - Image (JPG), Portable Document File (PDF), ASCII Text, Image (GIF), MS Excel Spreadsheet, Audio Visual File, text/csv, Microsoft Word Document, Compressed (ZIP) file, etc.
 * Refine By: Location - National Archives facility, Presidential Library, etc.
 * Refine By: Record Group/Collection - specific National Archives Record Group
 * Refine By: Date - decennial date ranges
 * Sort: This allows you to sort the results by different criteria
 * Relevance
 * Title
 * National Archives Identifier (NAID)
 * Local Identifier
 * 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.

The icons on the results page indicate the following:
 * Series
 * Text
 * Globe

Record Hierarchy in the Online Catalog

 * The Record Hierarchy will display in the column to the left for each series 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.

Undestanding the Search Results
The record series search results includes the following sections. For more information see each section below.
 * Additional Information About this Series
 * Details
 * Scope and Content
 * Variant Control Numbers
 * Archived Copies
 * Comments on this Series

This image shows the different sections for the Population Schedules for the 1940 Census. Details on the contents of each section follow.

Additional Information About this Series

 * 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

Details

 * 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:



Scope & Content

 * A general description of the series content



Variant Control Numbers

 * ARC Identifier: Archival Research Catalog Number
 * Inventory Entry Number:
 * HMS/MLR Entry Number : Reference to the Preliminary Inventory



Archived Copies

 * 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.



Digital Images in the National Archives Catalog
The Record Group Explorer and Record Group Explorer Data webpages will identify record groups with digital records in the National Archives Catalog.
 * Record Group Explorer Identifies by Record Groups the percentage of scans online.
 * Record Group Explorer Data Identifies by Record Groups the number of textual scans online, estimate total textual pages, percentage online.

Collections that are completely digitized will say, "This series has been digitized and is now fully available online." Hyperlinks to digital images are found below in the Details section.
 * Digital images will only be attached at the file or item level
 * There is also a download option.
 * Some of the images may include transcriptions, or comments from the Citizen Archivist program.


 * [[file:NARA Catalog 1940 Census Utah 01.jpg|center]]