Official Government Website

Idaho State Archives

Idaho State Archives Exterior

Please note: The Idaho State Archives and Research Center will be closed all day on Saturday, April 6, and will close at 2 pm on Wednesday, April 24.

The Idaho State Archives (ISA) and Research Center provides public access to records of fiscal, administrative, legal, vital and long-term research value to the citizens and government of Idaho. ISA preserves a large and unique collection of materials that relate to the history of Idaho and the Pacific Northwest, including photographs, books, maps, manuscripts, oral histories, and government records. 

How to schedule appointments:

  • Advanced appointments are encouraged when inquiries extend beyond virtual reference service and will require access to archival records in the Lincoln Reading Room.
  • These appointments are generally scheduled 48 hours in advance during regularly scheduled hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11 am-4 pm.
  • Researchers should email their research questions to public.archives@ishs.idaho.gov.

Please also review the guidelines for researchers in preparation for your visit as outlined in the right-hand column.

HOURS

Tuesday-Saturday | 11 am-4 pm

Closed on state holidays.

LOCATION

2205 Old Penitentiary Road
Boise, ID 83712

CONTACT US

Idaho State Archives welcomes patrons to conduct their research on site. Because collections may be fragile, highly specialized and unique, special handling and access provisions are necessary.

Patrons are asked to help preserve ISA’s historic items by following these basic rules:

BRING flash drive, wallet (to pay for copies), citations, or collection information (if applicable).

CHECK personal belongings such as coats, briefcases, packages, and purses in the complimentary lockers provided at the Research Center entry.

SILENCE cell phones and take necessary calls in the hallway.

WRITE only with pencils and laptop computers.

ASK staff for assistance if you have any questions of concerns regarding the handling of materials.

NO food or drink in the Research Center.

The Idaho State Archives has a variety of resources to help you learn about your family’s history. Whether you are accessing our collections on-site or off-site, you are sure to find materials that will help.

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Former State Historian Merle Wells originated the Idaho State Historical Society Reference Series in the 1960s. Merle sought to have a handy series providing people with quick snapshots of different topics in Idaho history.

Here you’ll find stories of famous Idahoans; of trappers and miners; of towns and counties; legends and battles; trails and historic sites. There are more than 1,000 topics to choose from.

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Chronicling America
The Idaho Digital Newspaper Project makes more than 80 historic newspapers from across the Gem State available to anyone with internet access. Researchers can browse or keyword search articles spanning the period of 1863 to 1925, more than 60 years of Idaho’s history. 

The Idaho Digital Newspaper Project was a partnership between the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the Library of Congress (LC) and the Idaho State Archives, with technical assistance from the Montana Historical Society.

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Additional Resources
Search Chronicling America by Topic
Tips for Searching Chronicling America
All NDNP Award Recipients
Additional Information about Chronicling America

Koha
Koha is an open-source integrated library system used by the Idaho State Archives to index resources available within the Dr. Merle W. Wells Research Center. Users can research online to see what is available in the library.

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ArchivesSpace
ArchivesSpace is a way the public can access information on the donated collections held at the Idaho State Archives through keyword searches. It contains information about how large the collection is, biographical information, if there are other related materials, inventories etc. The Idaho State Archives currently has three repositories: manuscripts, photos, and oral histories. Not all collections are available and records are continuously added, but you can also visit the Idaho State Archives to see the collections in person!

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The Idaho State Historical Society preserves and provides access to a wide number of resources and materials related to Idaho History.

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The Government Records Program preserves and provides access to a large volume of city, county, state and territorial historic government records. It also operates a State Record Center, which provides centralized storage and services to state agencies. Per Idaho Code 64-4126, the state archives is responsible for records management services. 

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The Idaho State Archives seeks original material with enduring historical value and strong ties to Idaho. In addition to our role as the official repository for the State of Idaho, we also accept private donations of a wide variety of materials including documents, letters, diaries, maps, photographs, and more. Each prospective donation is reviewed by the Idaho State Archives Collections Committee to evaluate its relevance and potential inclusion to the permanent collection.

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Family Looking at the Lincoln Exhibit

A. Lincoln: His Legacy in Idaho

The Abraham Lincoln: His Legacy in Idaho exhibition at the Idaho State Archives features over 200 artifacts and documents that reveal the intriguing and significant connections between the 16th president and the 43rd state.

Two People Sitting at a table is the Idaho State Archives

Research Requests

Idaho State Archives and Research Center staff are happy to help with questions. Researchers are offered 30 minutes of complimentary reference time per request. If your request requires additional research, staff can assist up to two hours of research at $38 per hour.

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