What is an archive?
An archive is a collection of documents, records, and other materials that are created or received by an organization, family, or person. The National Park Service archives collects and preserves records vital to the function and mission of the NPS and they are permanent records preserved for the life of the organization. These records are valuable to the government for legal and fiscal purposes and serve as evidence of past work. The archives continue to inform park managers about how each parks’ resources have been cared for in the past and how best to continue that mission into the future.
An archive is also a physical place where you can gather firsthand facts, data, and evidence from letters, reports, notes, memos, photographs, and other primary sources. In this case, NPS archives serve as the raw material for writing the histories of the organization and individual parks. The archives also holds evidence of trends in environmentalism, conservationism, outdoor recreation, family vacationing, as well as other issues important to the American public. One exciting reality of archives and the study of history is that we don’t always know how the archives will be used in the future or what historians will research.
Hampton’s archives provide a treasure trove of historical information about all phases of life on the Hampton estate across three centuries. Members of the Ridgely family left rich documentary evidence of their lives and all who lived and labored on the Hampton estate and in the world beyond. The collection consists of over 10,675 items, including documents, maps, journals, photographs, oral histories, and more. In addition to these, NPS Resource Management Records (1945-c.2010) document the park’s operation, preservation of resources and programmatic activities. The items available online are only a selection of what is available in our archives, and we are continually working to add more items.
The collections are held in trust for the benefit of the public and are open to researcher by appointment. For questions, additional information, or to schedule a research visit, contact Hampton NHS curatorial staff.
Items may be used for educational and research purposes. For commercial use, please contact curatorial staff.
Content Note: Some of the words and topics encountered in historic documents may be upsetting. Words used in historic documents reflect the views of the writer and the time in which they lived. Today, we have a different understanding of the meaning and impact of these words.
