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ArchivesUSA is a unique and invaluable tool for all researchers who use primary source materials. The database allows access to the special collection details of more than 4,400 repositories. It includes records, complete with detailed indexes, for approximately 100,000 individual collections.

ArchivesUSA enables retrieval of information using three different search facilities: Collection Search, Repository Search, and NIDS/NUCMC Search.

• The Collection Search is used to generate a list of collections pertinent to particular subjects, from particular dates or periods, or located in particular repositories, towns or states. The user has keyword access to the detailed indexes prepared for both NUCMC and NIDS.

• The Repository Search is used to generate a list of repositories in a particular state or town, or where the holdings information contains a particular keyword. The full address of any repository retrieved can be displayed or printed. If the repository has a website, a hotlink is provided to that site. Questions and requests can be e-mailed directly to any repository that has provided an address.

• A user can locate a specific record by searching on the NIDS (National Inventory of Documentary Sources in the United States) or NUCMC (National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections) number.