Researchers FAQ

What are your hours? Where can I park? What is your mailing address? Where are you located?

The Division of Archives and Records includes four main facilities: the State Archives of North Carolina and the State Records Center, both located in Raleigh, and two regional archives: the Outer Banks History Center, located in Manteo, N.C., and the Western Regional Archives, located in Asheville. The State Records Center is only open to official business, but the other three locations are open to the public.

Information about parking, hours, holidays and mailing addresses specific to each location can be found on their Visit Us page:

How do I contact a person or unit within the Division of Archives and Records?

See our staff list for contact information including email, phone and fax numbers.

What isn’t allowed in the State Archives Search Room?

Items prohibited in the Search Room: briefcases, laptop computer cases, backpacks, tote bags, large purses; ring notebooks; envelopes; plastic sleeve-covered pages; original maps, manuscripts, and other material; books; scanners, pens, tape and Post-It notes are not permitted. Go to the Visit Us page for the State Archives of North Carolina for more information about visiting the Search Room.

What is allowed in the State Archives Search Room?

Laptops, digital cameras, paper to write on, and pencils. Go to the Visit Us page for the State Archives of North Carolina for more information about visiting the Search Room.

Who do I contact for general questions?

If you have a general question that does not require research to be performed and can not find the information on our website, then send general inquiries to:

State Archives of North Carolina
4614 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4614
OR
Email: archives@ncdcr.gov
Fax: (919) 733-1354

If you have any questions concerning the nature of your request and whether it is something the State Archives can answer please call (919) 814-6840

How much do you charge for copies?

Photocopy charges are $.10 a copy; print copies from microfilm are $.25 a copy. A complete list of duplication services and fees, including fees for scanning materials, is available on our Duplication Services page.

Can I request information by mail or email?

Yes, but the type of research that can be requested from the State Archives, Outer Banks History Center, and the Western Regional Archives is limited due to the large amount of materials in our collections and demands on staff time.

For examples of the research that can and cannot be conducted by the State Archives, consult our Ordering Copies page.
For information about reference services provided by the Outer Banks History Center, visit the “Requesting Information By Mail or Email” section of the Outer Banks History Center Services page.
For more information about reference services provided by the Western Regional Archives consult the reference services section of their page.

Where do I go to search your online catalog?

MARS (Manuscript and Archives Reference System) is the online catalog for the State Archives, Government Records Branch, Outer Banks History Center and Western Regional Archives. Although the information available in MARS is extensive, it does not include every item in our collections. An overview of what is and is indexed in MARS is available. Video tutorials on how to use MARS are available through YouTube.

Where can I search your digital collections?

Many of our digital collections are available through the North Carolina Digital Collections, a joint project of the State Archives and State Library of North Carolina. Other exhibits and online tools are listed on our Digital Collections and Publications page.

Who do I contact about donating Non-Government materials?

Materials to the Western Regional Archives?

Heather South
Lead Archivist
Western Regional Archives

176 Riceville Rd.
Asheville, NC 28805
Phone: 828-296-7230 ext 232
E-Mail: Heather.South@ncdcr.gov

Materials to the Outer Banks History Center?

Samantha Crisp
Curator and Site Manager
Outer Banks History Center

1 Festival Park Boulevard
Manteo, NC 27954
Phone: 252-473-2655
E-Mail: Samantha.Crisp@ncdcr.gov

Photographs to the State Archives?

Vann Evans
Audiovisual Materials Unit
State Archives of North Carolina
Special Collections Branch

4614 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4614
Phone: 919-814-6851
Fax: 919-733-1354
E-Mail: vann.evans@ncdcr.gov

Letters, diaries, or other manuscript materials to the State Archives?

Fran Tracy-Walls
Private Collections Archivist
Special Collections Branch
State Archives of North Carolina

4614 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4614
Phone: (919) 814-6856
Fax: 919-733-1354
E-Mail: fran.tracy-walls@ncdcr.gov

Materials related to military service to the State Archives?

Matthew Peek
Military Collection Archivist
Special Collections Branch
State Archives of North Carolina

4614 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4614
Phone: (919) 814-6854
E-Mail: matthew.peek@ncdcr.gov

The records of my organization to the State Archives?

Gwen Thomas Mays
Organization Records Archivist
Special Collections Branch
State Archives of North Carolina

4614 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-4614
Phone: (919) 814-6855
Fax: 919-733-1354
E-Mail: Gwen.Mays@ncdcr.gov