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How To Decipher National Archive Record Numbers.

There are four basic components of the control or record number, and the best way to explain this methodology, is to provide you with an example, and then break it down into its corresponding parts:

Control Number: NWDNS-44-PA-1050
  • Location Code: NWDNS
  • Collection/Record Group: 44
  • Series Identifier: PA
  • Item Identifier: 1050
It's important to keep in mind, that most control number components are alphanumeric, and can vary in both style and length. Some holdings might also have a Sub-Group, Sub-Series, and/or File Series assigned to them. A more complex example might look something like this:

NRHS-21-DCHIHIHC-HC298-298REXH14(22)

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