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Guide to NPS History Resources in Other Repositories

Although the NPS History Collection includes a wealth of information about the bureau's history, employees, and issues related to Servicewide management of natural and cultural resources, many other repositories also have relevant materials for research into NPS history.

This research guide provides a list of additional resources and collections for those interested in researching NPS history. It is not exhaustive, nor is it an endorsement of any institution or commercial service. It is provided for research purposes only. Users are responsible for any applicable research, reproduction, or licensing fees.

All links are accurate as of September 18, 2024. Please report broken links to the NPS History Collection archivist to keep this resource up to date for everyone.

Other NPS Resources

  • A Directory of Oral History in the National Park Service: Summary of oral histories in park and NPS repository museum archives.

  • Alaska Park Science: Reports information from on-going and recently completed research in and around Alaska’s national parklands

  • Common Ground: Archeology and Ethnology in the Public Interest

  • Electronic Technical Information Center: eTIC’s database and collection contains documents and drawings that are utilized in the planning, development, construction, modification, and repair of buildings and facilities in the parks. Planning, resource management, and development type documents establish guidelines for the overall use, preservation, management, and development of areas within NPS.

  • HFC Commissioned Art Collection: Artwork commissioned for NPS park brochures, exhibits, films, and other media.

  • Midwest Archeological Center Library & Publications: This website provides electronic copies of archeological and technical reports, special reports, and occasional studies undertaken by archeologists in the NPS Midwest Region parks.

  • National Register of Historic Places: The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation. State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs) and the National Archives also have relevant records.

  • Natural Resources Publication Series: Online access to NPS natural resources reports, data, and technical report series.

  • NPS Cultural Resource Management Journal: Electronic access to the CRM Bulletin (1978-1990), CRM (1991-2002), and CRM: the Journal of Heritage Stewardship (2003-2011).

  • NPGallery: The NPGallery Digital Asset Management System is an enterprise system for storing, organizing, and sharing photos and other digital files. NPGallery's central online repository offers a place for the NPS to store digital assets, including photos, illustrations, audio files, videos, and documents.

  • NPS Historical Handbooks: Selection of park-specific historical handbooks.

  • NPS Integrated Resource Management Applications (IRMA): IRMA is a web-based portal for data and information related to National Park Service natural and cultural resources.

  • NPS Library Information Center: Online catalog for NPS library collections. Many NPS libraries offer interlibrary loans services.

  • NPS Maps: Downloadable maps of NPS areas prepared by Harpers Ferry Center cartographers.

  • NPS Natural History Handbooks: Selection of historical titles available for download.

  • NPS Stats: Statistics regarding visitor use in individual parks.

  • NPS Web Catalog: Selected highlights from park museum collections and archives are available on the web catalog

  • Park Histories: NPS website featuring online copies of administrative histories and historic and cultural studies prepared for individual parks.

  • Park Science: Research and resource management journal of the NPS.

  • Science Report Series: Reports that disseminate information, analysis, and results of scientific studies and related topics concerning resources and lands managed by the NPS.

  • State of the Park Reports

Park Collections

Most parks have their own museum collections and archives. Regional repositories of park collections also exist. The collections are park-specific and address the historical, cultural, and natural resources within a given park’s boundaries or relevant to the park’s enabling legislation. Although some parks have finding aids available online, many do not. There is no one central access point and some collections may not be cataloged yet. To find out more about park collections, search for specific park names at www.nps.gov and view the contact information.

Other Federal Collections

Library of Congress

Library of Congress holds the papers of many early presidents, as well as notable historical figures associated with NPS units, such as Ansel Adams, Booker T. Washington, Fredrick Law Olmstead, Artist Gutzon Borglum, Clara Barton, Frederick Douglass, and the Wright Brothers. Various folklife projects also relate to specific parks (e.g. Blue Ridge Parkway, Lowell, etc.) Papers of various government officials in the LOC holdings also contain relevant materials. Below is a small selection of NPS-related records at the Library of Congress. Researchers are encouraged to contact the LOC directly for other relevant materials.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

The NPS Records are principally found in NARA’s Record Group 79. However, other relevant record groups exist and will vary depending upon the park/area of interest. Some of the relevant record groups are listed below:

Online inventories of NPS records in the National Archives include:

NARA also manages other programs significan for NPS research, including:

Smithsonian Institution

  • Smithsonian Institution Archives: Includes records regarding MOUs between NPS and Smithsonian, the river basin surveys, and events and festivals on the National Mall. Also includes records relating to individual parks, including surveys of archeological and natural resources.

Other

  • Federal Depository Library Program: FDL provides free access to Federal Government information.
  • Government Printing Office: GPO’s Government Bookstore has copies of NPS reports, junior ranger books, park handbooks, travel posters, and maps available for purchase.
  • Interior Museum: Includes objects and archives regarding NPS History and its role within the U.S. Department of the Interior.

University Libraries

Note that the university libraries listed below likely have additional collections of documents and photographs related to national parks. We recommend that you contact the library directly for more information about other collections.

Clemson University

Open Parks Network

A partnership between Clemson University and the National Park Service, this digital gallery features rare and unique material from the archives of the country’s national parks, historic sites and battlefields. https://openparksnetwork.org/

NPS Director’s Papers

Clemson University Libraries Special Collections includes records from eight NPS directors. Finding aids for these papers are available online.

Colorado State University

Montana State University Library

Northwest College

  • A.G. Lucier Collection (photographs taken during the National Park-to-Park Highway Association's dedication tour in 1920).

Stanford University Libraries

University of Arkansas Libraries

University of California

Bancroft Library

Charles E. Young Research Library

Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Archives, UC-Berkeley

University of Kentucy Libraries

Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History

University of Maryland Libraries Special Collections and University Archives

University of Michigan

Bentley Historical Library

University of Montana Mansfield Library, Archives & Special Collections

University of Oregon Libraries

University of Utah Libraries

University of Washington Libraries

University of Wyoming

American Heritage Center

Utah State University Library

State and County Archives & Museums

Many state museum and archives have records relevant to NPS History. Researchers will need to contact repositories individually and/or conduct separate online searches by state. Some states have material available online, for example: In addition to the general online resources of the type described above, state or county archives and museums also include special collections:

New Mexico History Museum, Fray Angélico Chávez History Library

Pennsylvania State Archives

City Libraries & Museums

Denver Public Library (DPL)

The Conservation Collection includes documents related to various organizations and individuals relevant to NPS history. A few examples of each are included below but researchers should search the DPL catalog more fully.

Examples of organizations include:
Examples related to the NPS employees include:
Other DPL Collections

Killingly Historical and Genealogical Society

  • White Mountain Smith Photos: Photographs of Ranger Charles "White Mountain" Smith and Dama Margaret Brown (before they were married when they both worked at Grand Canyon National Park.

Private Archives & Museums

  • Ansel Adams Gallery: Adams’ iconic images from Yosemite National Park.
  • Forest History Society Library and Archives: Includes the Redwood National Park Collection, 1926-1980.
  • Life Picture Collection: Includes images taken by Life Magazine photographers at national parks. Most photos were never published in the magazine. Contact their archivist for more information about the collection.
  • Museum of History & Industry: Charles Browne Mount Rainier Park Ranger and Other Materials Collection.
  • National Park Service History eLibrary: Although this free digital repository is not affiliated with the NPS, it provides access to electronic publications covering the history of the NPS and the cultural and natural history of the national parks, monuments, and historic sites of the U.S. National Park System. Many documents from the NPS History Collection are also available digitally on this site.
  • Sherman Grinberg Film Library: Home of the historic Paramount and American Pathe newsreels, which include films at national parks.
  • The Mather Homestead: The family home of the first NPS Director Stephen T. Mather, the museum includes objects, photos, and documents related to Mather and his family.
  • Tiffany & Company Archives: Design drawings and associated documentation for the first NPS-issued badge.
  • Winterthur Library: The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera includes the William Seale’s Papers (he worked for the NPS at the White House).

Aggregating Databases

  • ArchiveGrid: ArchiveGrid contains records describing archival materials from over 1,000 institutions. Search their database for relevant names or subjects.

  • Archives West: Descriptions of archival and manuscript materials held by participating institutions in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West. Search their database for relevant names or subjects.

  • Online Archives of California (OAC): OAC provides access to information about materials in over 200 libraries, special collections, archives, historical societies, and museums throughout California, including the University of California’s campuses.

  • Social Networks and Archival Context: SNAC is a free, online resource for biographical and historical information about persons, families, and organizations that created or are documented in historical resources around the world.

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Last updated: November 17, 2024