Does the National Archives transfer records between cities on request?
Archives are original records, often unique and usually irreplaceable. Because of their age, archives are fragile and the information they contain is vulnerable to damage or loss through constant or improper handling. Unlike library material, which is usually published in multiple copies and able to be replaced if lost or stolen, when you use an archival record you are often using the only copy that exists. For these reasons strict rules govern the handling and use of archival records. To avoid the risk of loss or damage, we do not transfer archival records between reading rooms in different cities. In this way, we seek to maintain and preserve them for future generations. While we regret that this policy limits the accessibility of original records, we do maintain microfilm copies of many records in each of our reading rooms. We are also able to provide copies of records on request. If you are unable to visit the reading room where the original records are held, and no microcopies are
