National Archive

With its headquarters in the National Library in downtown Santiago, the National Archive is the body responsible for collecting and conserving all papers relating to the administrative, political and legal history of Chile.  Two Regional Archives also exist in the Tarapacá Region of northern Chile and the Araucanía Region in the south. 

History

The first initiative to create a National Archive dates back to 1844 when it was viewed as a means of gathering information for the implementation of public policies. However, it was not until 1887 that the General Government Archive was created. 

This was followed in 1925 by the creation of the National History Archive to consolidate records from the colonial period (1600-1810) and those produced by the independent Republic. Its mission was to conserve central government documents, municipal archives, private collections and notarial and judicial records. 

Collections

The National Archive’s collections, occupying some 45 km of shelving.

The National Archive’s collections, occupying some 45 km of shelving, comprise principally:  

• National History Archive (ANH): Located in the eastern wing of the National Library, this Archive holds government and judicial records from the colonial period through to the nineteenth century.
  In addition, it has a valuable collection of maps, engineering and architectural plans and drawings for military projects, forts, ports and railways from the seventeenth century through to the beginning of the twentieth century.  Barring some restrictions relating to their state of conservation, documents can be consulted in the ANH’s Reading Room. An important number of records can also be found on the "Online Catalogs" section.
• National Administration Archive (ARNAD): Located in the Santiago Library, this Archive, which was created in 1993, comprises principally documents produced by government and judicial bodies in the nineteenth century through to the present day. However, it also holds some records from public notaries and real estate registers that date back as far as the seventeenth century. An important number of records can also be found on the "Online Catalogs" section.