Archives nationales
Finding aids, digitised archives, exhibitions and guidance for researching French state records.
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Research an archive collection
Use finding aids to understand a document’s provenance.
Check first: Record its reference code and access conditions.
Compare this resource with other directory records →
Prepare an archive reference without losing its identifier
- Inventory
- Understand the fonds and creator.
- Archival unit
- Record the complete reference.
- Open the unit’s description within its fonds.
- Copy the entire reference including signs.
- Check storage site and consultation arrangements.
Fictional example: Maud shortens a reference in her notes and cannot find the expected register. She returns to the inventory to preserve the complete identifier and fonds context.
Your useful record: Fonds, creator, complete reference, unit and storage site.
An inventory description does not establish that a document image is available online.
Editorial method informed by Archives nationales — Méthodologie de recherche. Documentation consulted on . Examples are fictional exercises, not results from a live service test.
Read a reference without losing its unit
These references are examples from the official method, not newly created references.
| Element | Meaning |
|---|---|
| F/21/5284 | F: ministries and administrations series; F/21: Fine Arts; 5284: box. |
| 20130510/1 | 2013: transfer year; 0510: transfer sequence; /1: first box. |
| Complete reference | Preserve letters, digits and signs when ordering the unit. |
Try the reasoning
Illustrative situation. Your note only says “F/21”. Does it locate the example’s box?
Read the explanation
That reference is incomplete. Return to the description and keep F/21/5284 to identify the particular box.
Documentation for the table : Archives nationales — Méthodologie de recherche · . The exercise is an editorial example.
Move from an inventory to an archive reference
The National Archives virtual reading room provides inventories and available images. An inventory describes retained documents; it does not mean every item is digitised. Keep the archival reference to locate the exact document.
- Context
- Read the creator and collection description.
- Reference
- Keep the document or archival unit identifier.
- Access
- Check available images and consultation arrangements.
- Paris site
- The Hôtel de Soubise was assigned to the Imperial Archives following state acquisition in 1808.
- Museum
- The Archives nationales museum opened in 1867 in the Hôtel de Soubise reception rooms. Distinguish a museum visit from an archive consultation request.
- Reference form
- Letters, numbers and signs in an archive reference must be preserved precisely.
Source: Archives nationales — Méthodologie de recherche · consulted on - Document ordering
- The reference is needed to order or reserve the archival unit.
Source: Archives nationales — Méthodologie de recherche · consulted on
Does a result without an image mean the document is missing?
No. An item may be described in an inventory without being available as a digitised image.
Initial profile documentation
- Passer d’un inventaire à une référence d’archive / Move from an inventory to an archive reference ↗
- Archives nationales — Histoire de l’hôtel de Soubise / Hôtel de Soubise history ↗
Initial profile documentation consulted on . Added details carry their own source and consultation date above.
Editorial selection, without website certification. Read our method.