Alabama Department of Archives and History
The Alabama Department of Archives and History (ADAH) is located at 624 Washington Avenue in Montgomery. It was founded in 1901 by Thomas McAdory Owen and was the nation's first publicly funded, independent state archives agency. The department's mission is to identify, preserve, and make accessible records and artifacts of enduring historical value to the state. In addition, it serves as the official repository for records created by state agencies and promotes educational resources relating to Alabama's history.
ADAH is also the official repository for all the papers of Alabama governors from 1819 to present, with an extensive collection of public and private records and artifacts relating to George Wallace. It is the principal repository of historic state newspapers, as well as microfilmed county records from across the state. As part of its outreach efforts, the department maintains an extensive website that provides users with access to records and information relating to Alabama's history. The site offers finding aids and other useful databases online and includes digitized images of some of its collections, including photographs. ADAH has also used this medium to provide resources to teachers and students in secondary schools on Alabama history.
References
- Encyclopedia of Alabama website