georgiaarchives.org

The Georgia Archives is the official archival institution for the state of Georgia, part of the University System of Georgia. Since 1918, it has collected and preserved the state's most valuable historical documents. It serves three broad audiences: genealogists and family historians, anyone studying Georgia history, and government agencies managing public records. Its physical facility is in Morrow, GA, while its website (georgiaarchives.org) provides online entry points to collections, finding aids, and research guidance.

What the Georgia Archives Does

The Archives describes its mission as preserving "the records that tell the story of Georgia and its people." In practice, that means:

• Collecting and caring for historical documents — a role it has filled since 1918.
• Providing research access — both online through digitized materials and onsite in Morrow.
• Supporting public records management — helping government agencies understand records laws, legislation, and retention schedules.
• Offering educational programming — resources for educators, workshops, and events.

Online Resources You Can Use

The website organizes its main research tools into several distinct entry points:

The Virtual Vault is the place to start if you want to view documents without traveling. Finding Aids and the GIL catalog are planning tools — they tell you what exists onsite so you can decide whether a visit is worthwhile.

Research Services and Guidance

The Archives provides dedicated research help, including published policies and guidelines, and a specific Visual Materials Policy. If you are new to archival research, the site's "Research" section explains how to research at the Georgia Archives before you arrive. For vital records specifically, the Archives points you to the correct access process rather than hosting the records itself — an important distinction if you are tracing birth, death, or marriage records.

Visiting and Events

The facility is located in Morrow, GA. Before visiting, check the "Things to know before you visit" page, since onsite access to original records depends on what the finding aids show and on reading room policies.

The Archives also runs public programming:

• Lunch & Learn Lectures — held noon to 1:00 p.m.; recordings are posted to the Archives' YouTube channel afterward.
• Exhibits — for example, "First in Our State: A Revolutionary Achievement," on view September 12 through November 20, highlighting the life and genealogical research of Michael Nolden Henderson.
• Archives & Genealogy Day 2026 — scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2026, with hands-on genealogy research and presentations.

Who Should Use It

• Family historians: start with the Vital Records guidance and Finding Aids, then check the Virtual Vault for anything already digitized.
• Georgia history researchers: use the GIL catalog and Finding Aids to identify onsite collections, and watch the events calendar for relevant lectures.
• Government agency staff: the Records Services, Records Laws and Legislation, and Retention Schedules pages are the relevant starting points.
• Educators: the Educational Resources section covers programming such as National History Day and professional development workshops.

If your question is about a record held by a county or another institution, the statewide Directory can point you to the right place.

The Georgia Archives is the state's official repository for historical records, located in Morrow, GA, and open to anyone researching family history, Georgia history, or public records. Before you go, the most useful preparation is to check the "Things to know before you visit" page, confirm which materials you need through the Finding Aids and Catalog, and understand that access to research spaces and collections is governed by the Archives' policies and guidelines.

What the Georgia Archives Is

The Georgia Archives, part of the University System of Georgia, has collected and preserved the state's historical documents since 1918. Its holdings include original records available for onsite research, books and other publications, and a growing set of digitized documents in the Virtual Vault.

Its stated purpose covers three broad audiences:

• Family researchers tracing genealogy
• Historians and students studying Georgia history
• Government agencies managing public records

Before You Visit: Practical Steps

1. Check the visit information first

The site's Visit section includes a "Things to know before you visit" page. Read it before planning your trip — it is the Archives' own summary of what to expect at the facility.

2. Confirm what you need is available onsite

Not everything is online. Two tools help you identify what exists and where it is held:

A sensible sequence: search the Virtual Vault for anything already digitized, then use Finding Aids and the Catalog to identify items that require an in-person visit.

3. Review policies and guidelines

The Archives publishes Policies and Guidelines, including a separate Visual Materials Policy. These govern how collections and research spaces may be used. If your research involves photographs, audiovisual material, or other visual items, check that policy specifically.

4. Plan around the location

The facility is in Morrow, GA. Confirm current hours and any access conditions through the Visit section rather than assuming standard library hours.

Researching Family History

The Archives treats genealogy as a core use case. Its Research section explains how to research at the Georgia Archives, and Research Services and Research Help pages describe the assistance available.

For vital records specifically, the site provides a dedicated Vital Records page explaining how to access Georgia's vital records — note that these are not necessarily held or issued directly by the Archives, so read that page before assuming you can pull a birth or death certificate onsite.

The Directory is a separate resource: it helps you locate cultural and historical institutions statewide, useful when the record you need turns out to be held elsewhere.

Events and Programming

The Archives runs public programming alongside its collections:

• Archives & Genealogy Day 2026 — Saturday, October 3, 2026, with hands-on genealogy research and presentations
• Lunch & Learn Lectures — noon to 1:00 p.m.; recordings are posted to the Archives' YouTube channel afterward
• Exhibits — for example, "First in Our State: A Revolutionary Achievement," on view September 12 through November 20
• Educator resources — including America 250, National History Day, and professional development workshops

If your visit can be timed to one of these, the lectures and genealogy day add structured guidance you would not get on a self-directed trip.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Assuming everything is digitized. The Virtual Vault is a subset; original records generally require an onsite visit.
• Skipping the Finding Aids. Arriving without having identified specific collections makes limited research time less productive.
• Confusing the Archives with vital records offices. Read the Vital Records page to understand how access actually works.
• Overlooking the Visual Materials Policy if your research involves images or media.
• Not checking the events calendar — a Lunch & Learn or Genealogy Day may overlap usefully with your trip.

Quick Pre-Visit Checklist

1. Read "Things to know before you visit."
2. Search the Virtual Vault for digitized items.
3. Identify onsite materials via Finding Aids and the Catalog (GIL).
4. Review Policies and Guidelines, plus the Visual Materials Policy if relevant.
5. Check the Vital Records page if you need birth, death, or marriage records.
6. Look at the events calendar for lectures, exhibits, or Genealogy Day.
7. Confirm the Morrow, GA location and current access details.

The Georgia Archives serves two distinct professional audiences through dedicated sections of its website: educators get classroom-ready teaching resources and professional development, while government agencies get records management guidance, retention schedules, and records law information. Both groups also have access to public programming like Lunch & Learn lectures and exhibits. If you teach Georgia history or manage public records for a state or local agency, these are the entry points to start with.

Services for Educators

The Educators section of georgiaarchives.org groups resources for K-12 teachers and students:

• Educational Resources — primary-source-based materials drawn from the Archives' collections for classroom use.
• America 250 — programming tied to the 250th anniversary of the United States, useful for teachers building units on the Revolutionary era.
• National History Day — support for students and teachers participating in the National History Day competition, a common fit for social studies and history classes.
• Professional Development and Workshops — training opportunities for educators, listed alongside the other educator resources.

These are the pages to check first if you need primary documents, project-based history activities, or continuing education tied to Georgia records.

Services for Government Agencies

The Government Agencies section addresses records management obligations for state and local government:

• Records Services — assistance with managing government records.
• Records Laws and Legislation — the legal framework governing public records in Georgia.
• Retention Schedules — the timetables that determine how long specific record types must be kept before disposition.

If your agency needs to know how long to hold a record series or what the law requires, start with Retention Schedules and Records Laws and Legislation, then use Records Services for direct help.

Records Care and Partnerships

Two related sections round out the professional services:

• Partners — organizations the Archives works with, relevant if your institution is exploring a collaborative project or deposit.
• Caring for Records — guidance on preserving and handling records, useful for agencies and institutions that hold historical materials outside the Archives.

Public Programs Open to Both Groups

The Archives also runs programming that educators, agency staff, and the general public can attend:

• Lunch & Learn Lectures — held at the Georgia Archives from noon to 1:00 p.m.; bring your lunch. Lectures are posted to the Archives' YouTube channel afterward, so you can watch later if you can't attend. Scheduled 2026 talks include "First in Our State: A Revolutionary Achievement" with Michael Henderson on October 9, "To Be Determined" on November 13, and "Finding Sarah and Mary: Unraveling African American Genealogy" on December 11.
• Exhibits — for example, First in Our State: A Revolutionary Achievement, on view September 12 through November 20, highlighting the life and genealogical research of Michael Nolden Henderson.
• Special Events — a full schedule of 2026 lectures, exhibits, and events from July through December is listed on the site.
• Archives & Genealogy Day 2026 — Saturday, October 3, 2026, with hands-on genealogy research and presentations.

Where to Start

The Archives is located in Morrow, GA, and has preserved Georgia's records since 1918. For research beyond these professional services, the site's Research section covers how to search collections, use finding aids, and access vital records.

The Georgia Archives website (georgiaarchives.org) is both a research portal and a visitor guide. Its online resources fall into four practical groups: digitized documents you can browse from anywhere (Virtual Vault), tools for locating records (Finding Aids, Catalog/GIL, Directory), guidance on how to research and access vital records, and information for planning a visit or managing public records. Use the online tools first to identify what exists; most original records still require an onsite visit to Morrow, GA.

Online collections and search tools

Virtual Vault

Browse Georgia's historic documents that have already been digitized. This is the starting point if you want to see material without traveling — the site describes it as the place to "browse Georgia's historic documents available online."

Finding Aids

Use these to discover original records available for onsite research. Finding aids describe archival collections rather than digitized items, so they tell you what exists and where, even when the content itself is not online.

Catalog (GIL)

Find books and other publications available onsite. GIL is the catalog for published material held at the Archives, distinct from the manuscript and record collections covered by finding aids.

Directory

Locate cultural and historical institutions statewide. Useful when the records you need are held by a county courthouse, local historical society, or another repository rather than the state archives.

Research guidance

The Research section explains how to research at the Georgia Archives, and Research Services describes the support available. Separate pages cover Policies and Guidelines and a Visual Materials Policy, which matter if you plan to request, reproduce, or publish materials.

Vital Records

A dedicated page explains how to access Georgia's vital records. Note that vital records are typically held by the state's vital records office rather than the Archives, so this page is guidance on where and how to obtain them — check it before assuming the Archives holds a birth, death, or marriage record.

Planning a visit and other services

• Visit: practical information, including a "Things to know before you visit" section.
• Programs: lectures, exhibits, and special events. Lunch and Learn lectures run noon to 1:00 p.m., and recordings are posted to the Archives' YouTube channel afterward. The site lists 2026 events, including Archives & Genealogy Day on Saturday, October 3, 2026, and a Lunch and Learn schedule running October–December 2026.
• Educators: educational resources, America 250 material, National History Day, and professional development workshops.
• Government Agencies: records services, records laws and legislation, and retention schedules — the section to use if you manage public records rather than research family history.
• About Us: background on the Archives, its newsletter, contact information, and advisory council.

How to choose where to start

• Researching family history online: begin with the Virtual Vault, then check Finding Aids to see what original records exist onsite.
• Looking for a specific published work: search the Catalog (GIL).
• Hunting records held outside the state archives: use the Directory.
• Needing a birth, death, or marriage record: start with the Vital Records page for access instructions.
• Managing public records for an agency: go to the Government Agencies section for retention schedules and records law.
• Planning to visit or attend a lecture: check Visit and Programs for hours, logistics, and the event calendar.

The Archives has collected and cared for Georgia's historical documents since 1918 and is part of the University System of Georgia. Its facility is in Morrow, GA.

Start with the Georgia Archives website's Research section, which explains how to research at the Archives, then use the Virtual Vault for online documents, Finding Aids to identify original records that require an onsite visit, and the Vital Records page to learn how to access Georgia birth, death, marriage, and other vital records. The Archives is a state institution in Morrow, GA, that has preserved Georgia's historical documents since 1918, so its holdings are strongest for Georgia-related families and state history.

What the Georgia Archives Offers Researchers

The Georgia Archives describes itself as preserving "the records that tell the story of Georgia and its people," collecting and caring for the state's most valuable historical documents since 1918. Its stated audiences include people researching their family, studying Georgia history, or managing public records.

For family history specifically, four online entry points matter most:

Step 1: Read the Research Guidance First

Go to the Research section of the site before searching anything. It covers how to research at the Georgia Archives, and the site also lists Research Services and Research Help as related pages. Reading this first tells you what the Archives can and cannot do for you, and whether your question is answerable online or requires a visit.

Step 2: Search the Virtual Vault for Online Documents

The Virtual Vault lets you "browse Georgia's historic documents available online." This is the fastest path if you want to check whether relevant material exists before committing to a trip. Start here for digitized documents; if what you need is not digitized, move to the next step.

Step 3: Use Finding Aids to Plan an Onsite Visit

Finding Aids exist to "discover original records available for onsite research." These describe collections held at the facility in Morrow, GA. Use them to identify which record groups are relevant to your family, then note that those materials must be consulted onsite.

The Catalog (GIL) is a separate tool for finding "books and other publications available onsite" — useful for published genealogies, local histories, and reference works rather than original records.

Step 4: Learn How to Access Vital Records

The Vital Records page explains how to access Georgia's vital records. Vital records are often governed by access rules that differ from other archival material, so read this page rather than assuming you can pull a record the same way you would a manuscript collection.

Step 5: Check Events and Programming for Guided Help

The Archives runs programming that supports genealogical research:

• Archives & Genealogy Day 2026 — Saturday, October 3, 2026, with hands-on genealogy research and presentations on resources for exploring family history.
• Lunch & Learn Lectures — noon to 1:00 p.m. at the Georgia Archives; lectures are posted to the Archives' YouTube channel afterward. Scheduled topics include "First in Our State: A Revolutionary Achievement" with Michael Henderson (October 9, 2026) and "Finding Sarah and Mary: Unraveling African American Genealogy" (December 11, 2026).
• Exhibits — "First in Our State: A Revolutionary Achievement" is on view September 12 through November 20, highlighting the life, genealogical research, and legacy of Michael Nolden Henderson.

If you are new to archival research, a guided event can shorten the learning curve considerably.

Step 6: Plan Your Visit

The Visit section covers visiting the Georgia Archives and "things to know before you visit." Check it before traveling to Morrow, GA, so you know what to expect and what to bring.

Practical Notes

• Geography matters. This is the Georgia state archives. Its collections center on Georgia records and Georgia people, so it is a strong starting point for Georgia families and a weaker one for families rooted entirely elsewhere.
• Online vs. onsite is the key distinction. The Virtual Vault is for browsing digitized documents; Finding Aids point to original records that require an onsite visit. Plan around that split rather than expecting everything to be online.
• Use the Directory for other institutions. The site's Directory helps you "locate cultural and historical institutions statewide" — useful when your research extends beyond what the Georgia Archives holds.
• Educators and agencies have separate sections. If you are a teacher or a government agency rather than a family researcher, the Educators and Government Agencies sections address records services, retention schedules, and records law instead.