The Alabama Department of Archives and History is the official repository of archival records for the U.S. state of

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = " Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County , LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham , area_total_km2 = 135,7 ...

. Under the direction of Thomas M. Owen its founder, the agency received state funding by an act of the

Alabama Legislature The Alabama Legislature is the legislative branch of the state government of Alabama. It is a bicameral body composed of the House of Representatives and Senate. It is one of the few state legislatures in which members of both chambers serve ...

on February 27, 1901. Its primary mission is the collecting and preserving of archives, documents and artifacts relating to the history of the state. It was the first publicly funded, independent state archives agency in the United States. It subsequently became a model for the establishment of archives in other states. Today the agency identifies, preserves, and makes accessible records and artifacts significant to the history of the state and serves as the official repository for records created by Alabama's state agencies.

The building and collections

The Department of Archives and History was housed in the old Senate cloak room at the Alabama State Capitol after its establishment in 1901. It was then moved to the Capitol's new south wing upon its completion in 1906. A separate building was first conceived of in 1918 by

Thomas McAdory Owen Thomas McAdory Owen (November 19, 1866 – March 25, 1920) was an American lawyer, archivist, historian, and founder of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, serving as its first director. Owen was the author of a large and noted ...

, the first director of the Archives. However, funding did not become available until the 1930s, when the next director,

Marie Bankhead Owen Marie Bankhead Owen (September 1, 1869 – March 1, 1958) was Director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History for over three decades, as well as a documentarian of Alabama history who authored numerous books on the subject. Owen served ...

(wife of Thomas), was able to secure the necessary capital from the

Works Progress Administration The Works Progress Administration (WPA; renamed in 1939 as the Work Projects Administration) was an American New Deal agency that employed millions of jobseekers (mostly men who were not formally educated) to carry out public works projects, in ...

. The three-story Neoclassical building was built from 1938–40. An east wing was completed in 1970 and a west one in 2005. The west wing added of new space to the building. The original Washington Avenue bronze entrance doors to the building were designed by artist

Nathan Glick Nathan H. Glick (June 10, 1912 – October 16, 2012) was an American artist and illustrator best known for his work as a combat artist depicting aerial battles in World War II. He also worked as art director for '' Progressive Farmer'' magazine, a ...

. They depict eight scenes from Alabama history. Following many years of wear they were relocated to the Ocllo S. Malone Lobby in the new west wing. The first and second floors of the Archives building feature walls clad in white

Alabama marble Sylacauga marble, also commonly known as Alabama marble, is a marble that is found in a belt running through Talladega County, Alabama. It is prized for its pure white color and its crystalline structure. The stone is named after the town of Sylac ...

. The first floor contains the original Washington Avenue entrance lobby, which features a

coffered ceiling A coffer (or coffering) in architecture is a series of sunken panels in the shape of a square, rectangle, or octagon in a ceiling, soffit or vault. A series of these sunken panels was often used as decoration for a ceiling or a vault, also ...

with gilt moldings and ceiling medallions. Other features of the first floor are the Statuary Hall, the Research Room, several auditoriums, a gift shop, and the Ocllo Malone Lobby.

Museum of Alabama

The second and third floors contain the Museum of Alabama. Portraits of people who contributed to the history of the state are hung in various locations on both of these floors. The second floor contains exhibits featuring the

Selma to Montgomery marches The Selma to Montgomery marches were three Demonstration (protest), protest marches, held in 1965, along the 54-mile (87 km) highway from Selma, Alabama, to the state capital of Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery. The marches were organized ...

, the history of Native Americans in the state from the

Pre-Columbian era In the history of the Americas, the pre-Columbian era spans from the original settlement of North and South America in the Upper Paleolithic period through European colonization, which began with Christopher Columbus's voyage of 1492. Usually, ...

to the Indian removal, and the history of warfare involving Alabamians from the

French Colonial French colonial architecture includes several styles of architecture used by the French during colonization. Many former French colonies, especially those in Southeast Asia, have previously been reluctant to promote their colonial architect ...

period to the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...

. The Alabama Sampler Gallery contains Alabama-related artifacts ranging from 19th century clothing to a guitar owned by

Hank Williams Hank Williams (born Hiram Williams; September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, he reco ...

. The Hands-On Gallery contains history-related activities for children. The third floor houses paintings and sculpture.

Native American Repatriation

Repatriation of Native American human remains and items from burial sites, as required by federal law, was approved by the Board of Trustees in 2022.

Directors

The department has had six directors since its inception. Thomas McAdory Owen served from 1901 until his death in 1920. He was succeeded by Marie Bankhead Owen, his wife, who served until her retirement in 1955. Peter A. Brannon was director from 1955 to 1967, followed by Milo Howard. Howard served until Edwin Bridges took over in 1982. Bridges served until his retirement in 2012. His successor, Steve Murray, was named in August 2012.

References

Bibliography

* Simpson, Robert R. “The Origin of the Alabama Department of Archives and History.” Alabama. Historical Quarterly 34, no. 2 (Summer 1972)

External links

Alabama Department of Archives and History
{{authority control State archives of the United States State agencies of Alabama Government agencies established in 1901 Organizations based in Alabama Museums in Montgomery, Alabama State government buildings in Alabama Buildings and structures in Montgomery, Alabama History museums in Alabama State history organizations of the United States Civil rights movement museums 1901 establishments in Alabama