Springfield Armory National Historic Site: Archives

For nearly two centuries, the U.S. Armed Forces and American industry looked to Springfield Armory for innovative engineering and superior firearms. Begun as a major arsenal under the authority of General George Washington early in the Revolutionary War, the first national armory began manufacturing muskets in 1794. Within decades, Springfield Armory had perfected pioneering manufacturing methods that were critical to American industrialization. After nearly two centuries of continuous production of rifles and muskets used by America's armed forces in every war in the nation's history, the armory closed its gates in 1968. Reopened in 1978 as the Springfield Armory National Historic Site by the National Park Service, the original 1840's arsenal houses the Springfield Armory NHS Museum and historic collection. Year-round public programs, exhibits, and special events are hosted on the grounds of the National Historic Landmark.

The Springfield Armory National Historic Site Museum Collections contains over 13,000 cataloged objects and archival collections. Upon establishment of Springfield Armory National Historic Site (SPAR) in 1978, the National Park Service (NPS) became stewards of a collection that was part of a formal museum operation that was over 100 years old. Started as a technical reference library for the workers and engineers at Springfield Armory, the museum collection has grown into one of the largest collections of military small arms in the world. While the bulk of the collections are not on public display, the catalog records of the objects are available online. Additional historic materials preserved by SPAR include fine art, historic artifacts, architectural elements, and memorabilia. Archeological and geological materials collected under permits are also cared for by the museum.

The Archival Collections at Springfield Armory NHS contain historical records, photographs, blueprints, and manuscripts containing unique and important information related to Springfield Armory’s history. The largest portion are documents, drawings, photographs, books, and other material left behind by the US Army when Springfield Armory closed in 1968. Another important collection is the documentation generated by Springfield Armory Museum, Inc., the non-profit which managed the museum in the ten years between the US Army’s departure and NPS park establishment. Additional collections include personal papers from former Armory workers that were donated in concert with a robust oral history program developed by the NPS, providing a valuable repository of the diverse employee experience at the Armory, as well as limited records from contractors employed by Springfield Armory or the Ordnance Department.