Alabama Department of Archives and History facts for kids
Central block of the archives building
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| Formation | 1901 |
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| Type | Government organization |
| Purpose | Archive |
| Headquarters | 624 Washington Avenue Montgomery, Alabama |
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Region served
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Alabama |
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Director
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Steve Murray |
| Website | www.archives.alabama.gov |
The Alabama Department of Archives and History is a special place in Alabama, U.S.. It's like a giant memory bank for the state! This department keeps important old records and items. Its main job is to collect and protect documents and artifacts. These items tell the story of Alabama's past.
This agency was the first of its kind in the U.S. It was publicly funded and independent. This means it got money from the state government. It started on February 27, 1901. Its founder, Thomas M. Owen, helped make it happen. Other states later used it as a model for their own archives. Today, the department finds, saves, and shares important records. It also keeps official records from Alabama's state government offices.
Contents
A Home for History: The Archives Building
The Department of Archives and History first started in the old Senate cloak room. This was at the Alabama State Capitol building in 1901. Later, in 1906, it moved to the Capitol's new south wing.
The idea for a separate building came in 1918. This idea was from Thomas McAdory Owen, the first director. But it took a while to get the money. In the 1930s, the next director, Marie Bankhead Owen, helped. She was Thomas's wife. She got money from the Works Progress Administration. This was a program that helped build things during that time.
The new building was built from 1938 to 1940. It has three floors and a grand style. An east wing was added in 1970. A west wing was finished in 2005. The west wing added 60,000 square feet (about 5,574 square meters) of new space.
The original bronze entrance doors are very special. Artist Nathan Glick designed them. They show eight scenes from Alabama's history. After many years, they were moved. Now you can see them in the Ocllo S. Malone Lobby. The first and second floors of the building have walls made of white Alabama marble.
The first floor has the original entrance lobby. It has a fancy ceiling with gold designs. Other parts of the first floor include the Statuary Hall. There is also a Research Room where people can study history. You can find auditoriums and a gift shop too.
The Museum of Alabama
The second and third floors are home to the Museum of Alabama. This museum is full of amazing exhibits! You can see portraits of people who helped shape Alabama's history. These are hung throughout both floors.
The second floor has exhibits about important events. These include the Selma to Montgomery marches. You can also learn about the history of Native Americans in Alabama. This covers times from long ago to the Indian removal. There are also exhibits about wars involving Alabamians. These range from the French Colonial period to the Vietnam War.
The Alabama Sampler Gallery shows many different items. These are all related to Alabama. You might see clothing from the 1800s. There's even a guitar that belonged to the famous singer Hank Williams. For younger visitors, the Hands-On Gallery has fun history activities. The third floor displays paintings and sculptures.
Caring for Native American History
The department also works to return Native American human remains and items. These are from burial sites. This is required by federal law. The board of trustees approved this in 2022. It's an important step in respecting Native American heritage.
Leaders of the Department
The department has had six directors since it began.
- Thomas McAdory Owen was the first director. He served from 1901 until he passed away in 1920.
- Marie Bankhead Owen took over after him. She was his wife. She served until she retired in 1955.
- Peter A. Brannon was director from 1955 to 1967.
- Milo Howard followed Brannon.
- Edwin Bridges became director in 1982. He served until his retirement in 2012.
- Steve Murray was named the current director in August 2012.
See also
In Spanish: Departamento de Archivos e Historia de Alabama para niños
- Thomas Perkins Abernethy – A well-known historian who studied Alabama.
- Government of Alabama
