FACTS ABOUT THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ARCHIVES AND HISTORY

As an Alabamian and a student of this great state, we want you to have the very best possible visit at the Alabama Department of Archives and History.

To give your trip special meaning let's learn:

1. What is an archives?

2. Why is an archives important?

3. What is special about the Alabama Archives?

4. What is an artifact?

5. Why do we need to keep our "hands off" when we look at artifacts?

6. Why must we be quiet when we visit the Archives building?

One by one, let's look at the answers to these questions, which you can find below.

1. An Archives is where important public papers are kept. The Alabama Archives also has interesting photographs (some from long, long ago), old maps and newspapers, and census information.

2. Archives are important because they provide the memory of our past. In Alabama's archives we can learn about Alabama's government, its people, important events and places in the state.

3. The Alabama Archives is special because it was the first funded archives established by a legislature in the United States. The Archives contains many important papers, paintings, sculptures and other artifacts in its reference room and museum spaces. For this reason visitors like to come often to enjoy everything in this beautiful building.

4. An artifact is anything made or used by people. Some examples of artifacts may be very old, such as grinding stone that Indians used to grind their corn. Some artifacts are not so old (like the ration coupons used by Americans during World War II). Some day some of the things you wear or collect may be found and studied by people who want to learn more about you and your time in history: those things will then be thought of as artifacts, too!

5. Our hands have oils and dirt on them. Everything we want to keep for a long, long time should not be handled with bare hands, or they will become oily and dirty. Museums and archives have special things we must protect for people to see and enjoy in the future.

6. People are studying in the reference room at the Archives, and people work in offices at the Archives, too. When people are studying and working, they like to have a quiet place. Help make this possible by being very quiet during your visit.