Press Release nr96-93
Press Release · Tuesday, August 13, 1996

Washington, DC

Washington, D.C. . . .The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) recently published an updated and expanded edition of the three-volume "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States." This new edition supersedes the 1974 edition and its 1987 reprint. The guide, which was compiled by Robert B. Matchette with Anne B. Eales, Lance Fischer, Brenda Kepley and Judith A. Koucky, was published by the U.S. Government Printing Office. The guide is also available electronically on the NARA home page of the World Wide Web. This publication is intended to be used as a first step by researchers. It describes the nature, scope and location of records in NARA's custody. The guide is organized into 414 chapters, each chapter representing one record group (an archival grouping or records created by a single agency and its predecessors). Each chapter describes the major holdings contained within the record group, provides a brief administrative history of the agency and summarizes the aggregate quantities, locations and formats of the records.

The latest edition includes descriptions of the approximately 1.7 million cubic feet of textual records; 300,000 rolls of microfilm; 2.2 million maps and charts; 2.8 million architectural and engineering plans; 9.2 million aerial photographs; 123,000 motion picture reels; 33,000 video recordings; 178,000 sound recordings; 7,000 computer data sets and 7.4 million still pictures in the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration nationwide.

To order a copy of the guide, which sells for $95, write to the National Archives Trust Fund, NECD, P.O. Box 100793, Atlanta, GA 30384. Make checks payable to the National Archives Trust Fund (please include $5 for shipping and handling). VISA and MasterCard are accepted; provide the account number, expiration date and cardholder signature. Credit card orders may also call toll free 1-800-234-8861, weekdays from 8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. eastern time. The guide is also available from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office (Stock No. 069-000-00064-9), telephone 202-512-1800, fax 202-512-2250.

For information on other NARA finding aids, write to Publications Distribution (NECD), National Archives and Records Administration, Room G-9. Washington, DC 20408, or call 202-501-7190/1-800-234-8861.

For additional PRESS information, please contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at (202) 501-5525 or by e-mail at public.affairs@nara.gov. Visit the National Archives Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.archives.gov/.

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