Guide to Researching the Department of Energy's Records

Introduction/Overview of DOE and Its Records

  • DOE Records Encompass a Number of Federal Agencies
  • DOE Has Headquarters and Field Sites
  • DOE Facilities Are Operated by Contractors
  • DOE Records Are Organized by Collection within Record Series
  • Documentation is Maintained on DOE Records Collections
  • Security Classification Can Be a Roadblock
  • Most DOE Records Are Temporary and Ultimately Are Destroyed
  • Electronic Records
Locating Records--By Originating Agencies and Offices

  • Manhattan Project/Manhattan Engineer District, 1942-1946
  • Atomic Energy Commission, 1947-1975
  • Energy Research and Development Administration, 1975-1977
  • Federal Energy Office/Federal Energy Administration, 1973-1977
  • DOE Headquarters, 1977-
  • DOE Field Offices and Sites, 1977-
Locating Records--Repositories, Reading Rooms, and Document Collections
  • National Archives and Records Administration, Headquarters
  • NARA, Regional Records Services Facilities
  • NARA, Presidential Libraries
  • DOE Historical Research Center
  • DOE Reading Rooms
  • DOE Nuclear Testing Archive
Locating Records--Online Resources, Finding Guides, and Other Research Tools
  • NARA Finding Guides
  • DOE Historical Research Center Finding Guides
  • DOE Records Management
  • Closeout Records Transfer and Storage Database
  • OpenNet
  • Human Radiation Experiments Information Management System
  • Office of Science and Technical Information (OSTI)
  • Other Major Information Systems
Accessing Records--Points to Ponder, Potential Roadblocks, Possible Alternatives

  • Call Ahead, Avoid Surprises
  • International Researchers
  • Security Classification and Declassification
  • DOE Records Management/Records Holding Areas
  • DOE Program and Administrative Offices
  • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests