What is in the Springfield Armory NHS Archival Collection?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. How do I research archival material at SPAR?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. Online Collections: |
Last updated: September 10, 2024