National Archives and Records Administration facts for kids
| NARA | |
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National Archives logo
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| Agency overview | |
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| Formed | June 19, 1934 (Independent Agency April 1, 1985) |
| Preceding agency |
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| Type | Independent |
| Jurisdiction | U.S. Federal Government |
| Headquarters | National Archives Building 700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Employees | 3,112 (2014) |
| Annual budget | $391 million (FY 2012) |
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| Child agency |
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The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is a special part of the United States government. Its main job is to keep and protect all the important papers and records from the government and from history. Think of it like a giant, super-safe library for the nation's most valuable documents!
NARA makes sure that these records are saved for everyone to see and learn from. They also make it easier for people to find and use these documents. This collection of documents is known as the National Archive.
NARA is officially responsible for keeping and publishing the original copies of:
NARA also tells Congress about the votes from the Electoral College. This is how the President and Vice President are officially chosen.
Contents
What NARA Does
NARA's main mission is to preserve and make available the records of the U.S. government. These records are important because they tell the story of our country. They help us understand how decisions were made and what happened in the past.
Preserving History
NARA takes care of billions of pages of documents. They also store millions of maps, charts, photographs, and films. Even computer files and sound recordings are kept safe.
These records come from all parts of the government. They include papers from presidents, Congress, and many different government agencies. NARA uses special methods to protect these items from damage.
Making Records Available
NARA believes that government records belong to the people. So, they work hard to make these records available to everyone. You can visit NARA buildings to see documents in person.
They also put many records online. This makes it easy for students, historians, and anyone curious to explore our nation's past from anywhere.
Types of Records at NARA
NARA holds a huge variety of records. These documents cover almost every aspect of American history. They are a treasure trove of information.
Government Documents
NARA keeps the original copies of important government papers. This includes the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the United States Bill of Rights. These are called the Charters of Freedom.
They also store records from different wars, like World War II. You can find census records, which count the population. There are also records about immigration and naturalization.
Presidential Records
NARA is in charge of all official records created by U.S. presidents. Each president has a special library or center managed by NARA. These are called Presidential Libraries.
These libraries hold papers, photos, and objects from each president's time in office. They are also places where people can learn about the presidency and American history.
History of NARA
NARA was first created in 1934. At that time, it was part of a larger government agency. Its job was always to keep government records safe.
In 1985, NARA became an independent agency. This means it operates on its own, separate from other departments. This change helped NARA focus even more on its important work of preserving our nation's history.
Images for kids
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The Rotunda of the National Archives Building, where the Charters of Freedom documents are publicly exhibited
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1930 Census Record from Naval Station Great Lakes, Lake County, Illinois.
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The National Archives Building from Constitution Avenue
See also
In Spanish: Archivos Nacionales y Administración de Documentos para niños
