Using the Summary Guide to Federal Records

• Select Search the Summary Guide to Federal Records to link to an alphabetical listing
• Choose the letter of the beginning or primary word/keyword in the name of the agency to link to an alphabetical list of agency names for that letter
• Example: Chose C for U.S. Bureau of the Census
• Cross-references are provided for many names of agency divisions or units
• Microcopy publications are listed with the records of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) under the respective agency name.
• NARA microcopies are divided into two types: M and T publications. Most M publications reproduce an entire series of records and have an introduction that contains explanatory material on the first roll of the microcopy. Many introductions and tables of contents are printed as accompanying descriptive pamphlets, copies of which are located in the Reference Room Library.
• T publications do not always reproduce a complete series of records but may contain only segments, by date or subject, of a larger series. T publications may be copies of microfilm produced by other federal agencies that are reproduced and sold by NARA exactly as filmed with no introductory material or descriptive pamphlets.
• Select the agency name to link to the listing of record series for that agency
• In most instances, records are further divided into subgroups, which correspond to the administrative units who created, inherited, or received the record on deposit. Some units represented are now defunct.
• Within each subgroup, records are listed numerically by series or call number
• Certain terms and abbreviations occur in the series entries
• Each series entry is composed of the:
• series/call number
• name of the records creator (agency, bureau, department, commission, court, or other entity and, where applicable, the division or unit)
• title of the record series
• inclusive date span of the series (i.e., the earliest date and the latest date represented in the series)
• bulk dates, where applicable (time period into which most of the records fall)
• quantity of the series (amount of cubic feet, volumes, microfilm reels, or other unit)
• statement of restriction on use or terms governing access of the series
• For container listings, see SCArchCat, the online catalog to our holdings which also gives additional information for many series and allows searching by keyword, subjects, and titles at each level (series, record group, container/folder, or item) or all levels combined
• Researchers interested in obtaining more information about record series should contact the State Archives and identify the series/call number and series title when making an inquiry

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