Archives

Archives

The archival collection at Springfield Armory NHS contains historical records, photographs, blueprints, and manuscripts containing unique and important information related to Springfield Armory’s history.

The largest portion are documents, drawings, photographs, and other material left behind by the US Army when Springfield Armory closed in 1968. The U.S. Department of Defense, Army Chief of Ordnance, Springfield Armory Records at the Springfield Armory NHS are a portion of the Army's records that remained at the Armory's closure in 1968, in contrast to the majority of the 1832-1947 Armory records transferred by the Army over many decades to the National Archives in Waltham, MA.

Additional collections include personal papers from former Springfield Armory workers, an oral history collection developed by NPS c. 1989-2002 that provides a valuable illustration of the diverse employee experience at the Armory, limited records from contractors employed by Springfield Armory or the Ordnance Department, and administrative records from the nonprofit organization that ran the museum in the 10 year interim between the U.S. Army and the National Park Service’s stewardship of the Springfield Armory National Historic Site.

Research at Springfield Armory

Appointments are required for use of the archival collections. To make best use of time, researchers are encouraged to begin by examining the finding aids. Once you know what files within a collection you would like to have pulled, contact the archival staff with this information and we can schedule a time for patrons to view the materials. Limited space and staff affect our ability to accommodate researchers, so we generally cannot conduct research for patrons other than directing them to the finding aids and pulling materials for research and use.

Access to materials is dependent upon their physical condition and level of processing to date by the park staff. If you would like to inquire about researching the collection or set up a research appointment, please email the archives staff.

Selected materials have been digitized and uploaded to our digital NP Gallery Digital Archives Portal.

Collections

Department of the Army, Chief of Ordnance, Springfield Armory Records

This collection documents management, production, testing, employment, research, public relations, and site operations at the Springfield Armory from 1795-1969 (bulk dates 1860-1968).

Finding Aid to the Department of the Army, Chief of Ordnance, Springfield Armory Records.

Oral History Collection

The Springfield Armory NHS Oral History Collection is a unique resource documenting the operations of the Springfield Armory during the 20th century through interviews with former Armory employees and members of the community. There are 110 interviews included and recordings average 45-60 minutes. Audio files, transcripts or time-stamped summaries are generally available on request.

The entirety of the collection has been digitized and is currently available on our Digital Archive Portal: Oral History Collection.

List of Springfield Armory Employee Papers

The Springfield Armory National Historic Site (SPAR) Archival Collection contains personal papers and working files for over 82 past employees, some of which were donated by the employee themselves, some by relations of employees, and some through other forms of acquisition. Materials in this category all hold provenance to individuals who were employed by Springfield Armory, either as army officials, or as civilians.

Researchers should recognize that these materials are heavily “self-curated” by the employee before donation to the SPAR Archival Collection. Most working files do not reflect a complete history of an employee’s career nor provide comprehensive information on an issue or project that involved the employee.

List of Springfield Armory Employee Papers

Copyright & Restrictions

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. The various state privacy acts govern the use of materials that document private individuals, groups, and corporations. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a reproduction if the document does not infringe the privacy rights of an individual, group, or corporation. These specified conditions of authorized use include:

• non-commercial and non-profit study, scholarship, or research, or teaching

• criticism, commentary, or news reporting

• as a NPS preservation or security copy

• as a research copy for deposit in another institution

If a user later uses a copy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," the user may be personally liable for copyright, privacy, or publicity infringement. This institution's permission to obtain a photographic, xerographic, digital, or other copy of a document doesn't indicate permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, sell, distribute, or prepare derivative works from this document without first obtaining permission from the copyright holder and from any private individual, group, or corporation shown or otherwise recorded.

Permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, prepare derivative works from, sell, or otherwise distribute the item must be obtained by the user separately in writing from the holder of the original copyright (or if the creator is dead from his/her heirs) as well as from any individual(s), groups, or corporations whose name, image, recorded words, or private information (e.g., employment information) may be reproduced in the source material. The holder of the original copyright isn't necessarily the National Park Service. The National Park Service is not legally liable for copyright, privacy, or publicity infringement when materials are wrongfully used after being provided to researchers for "fair use."

This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if fulfillment of the order is judged in violation of copyright or federal or state privacy or publicity law.