The Kerala State Archives Department emerged as a separate department in 1962.  It is the custodian of all public records (non-current) of permanent value of State Government and its various departments.  The records received from various private individuals and institutions are also kept in the department.  Formerly this department was under the control of Higher Education Department, Government of Kerala, but at present it is functioning under the Department of Culture.  The main functions of the department include appraisal, acquisition, administration, management, scientific preservation, publication etc. of records kept in the department.  In addition, this department render technical advice to various department, institutions etc. in the management and conservation of records.  The records kept in the department are made available to the scholars and administrators.  The headquarters of the department is situated at Nalanda, Thiruvananthapuram and three Regional Offices are functioning under the Directors one each at Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode.

The organizational structure of the State Archives Department is given in the organization chart attached below. 

This department has a Directorate located at Nalanda, Thiruvananthapuram and three Regional Offices one at Thiruvananthapuram (Central Archives) another at Ernakulam (Regional Archives) and yet another at Kozhikode (Regional Archives).  The address of area-wise (Regional) offices are as given below.

(1)   Central Archives, Fort, Thiruvananthapuram-23.

(2)   Regional Archives, Ernakulam, Near Maharajas College, Cochin-11

(3)   Regional Archives, Civil Station, Kozhikode

Addresses of important authorities

Director
Directorate of Archives
Nalanda, Thiruvananthapuram-3.

Assistant Director
Directorate of Archives
Nalanda, Thiruvananthapuram-3.

Administrative Officer
Directorate of Archives
Nalanda, Thiruvananthapuram-3.

Archivist
Directorate of Archives
Nalanda, Thiruvananthapuram-3.

Superintendent
Directorate of Archives
Nalanda, Thiruvananthapuram-3.

Archivist
Directorate of Archives
Nalanda, Thiruvananthapuram-23

Contact Telephone Numbers

Director	2313759(Direct) 2311547(o)
Assistant Director	2311547
Administrative Officer	2311547
Junior Superintendent,Central Archives, Thiruvananthapuram	2478728
Junior Superintendent, Regional Archives, Ernakulam	2369686
Junior Superintendent, Regional Archives, Kozhikode	2370090

Application Forms

The applications issued from the department are the following.

1)      Application to peruse records kept in the repository of this Department

2)      Application for taking photo copies of records kept in the Department

The Enactment ordinance or legislation pertaining to the Department

Archival Policy Resolution

            To regulate the management, administration and preservation of public Records of the State Government have issued an Archival Policy Resolution vide G.O. (MS) No.157/76/H.Edn dated 11.10.1976.  Accordingly all disposed files permanent value of more than 25 years from Governments Secretariat, various Government Departments and other Government bodies’ are to be transferred to State Archives Department for permanent preservation.

Public Records Bill

A draft proposal of the public Records Act is under the Active consideration of the State Government.

Other Important Government Orders pertaining to the Department

1)      G.O. (Rt) 597/71/Edn. Dated 16.4.1971

                   Regarding access to records in the possession of the State Archives Department for scholars.

2)      G.O. (Rt) 175/03/CAD. Dated 31.3.2003

                    Pertaining revision of application fee and research fee received by the Department

Frequently asked Questions of the functioning and of the Administration of the Department

The records kept in the repository of the State Archives Department caters to the intellectual needs of the research scholars.  Research scholars of different faculties though mostly scholars in history make use of the facilities offered by the Archives.

Quarries from Government with respect to details from old files are frequently attended to.  This has immensely helped Government to settle disputes amicably.

Achievement and success stories of the Department

            The State Archives emerged as an independent department in 1962.  The accession and conservation of all non-current records of enduring value of the State Government for future reference is the basic function of the department.

            The department caters to the intellectual needs of a large number of scholars, mostly scholars in history.  This department is able to aid scholars in their academic research.

            Even since the formation of the department the officers of the department conducted appraisal work in various Government offices and collected huge volumes of records of immense historical value in which remains a great treasure to posterity.

            The conservation section of the department has succeeded in preserving records enhancing their longevity through scientific methods.

             This department has a reference library which houses research journals and other rare records and books, which help the scholars.

This department is a member of the International Council of Archives and Association of Indian Archivist.  The journal and deliberations of these bodies are available in our reference library.  They throw light on the innovations in Archives across the globe.

Feed back/Suggestions /Discussion Forum

            Exhibitions and seminars are frequently conducted by the State Archives Department in various Districts as part of awakening archival consciousness.  We collect feed back from the public in our diary as well as from the OPEN FORUMS conducted along with the exhibitions.  This feedback is of immense value to us in formulating our future programmes.

Important Government Orders       

1	Archives Department - Right to Information Act 2005 - Designation of State Public Information Officer - orders issued.