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src="/sites/all/themes/nara/images/nara-print-logo.jpg" alt="National Archives Logo" /> </p> <div class="region region-content"> <section id="block-system-main" class="block block-system clearfix"> <h1>Getting Started Overview</h1> <h2>Here's how to start researching records at the National Archives:</h2> <div> <div class="nwidget layout block title-box clearfix " data-additional-classes="" data-title="Get Started"> <h2>Get Started</h2> <ul class="lines"> <li>Step 1   <a href="/research/start/step1-determine-topic.html">Determine your Topic of Interest</a></li> <li>Step 2   <a href="/research/start/step2-gather-information.html">Gather Information about your Topic</a></li> <li>Step 3   <a href="/research/start/online-tools.html">Find Records and Information about Records</a></li> <li>Step 4   <a href="/research/start/plan-your-visit">Decide if you Should Visit and Plan Your Visit</a></li> </ul> </div> <h2>About the Records at the National Archives</h2> </div>  <p>Of all documents and materials created in the course of business conducted by the United States Federal government, only 1%-3% are so important for legal or historical reasons that they are kept forever. Those valuable records are preserved in the National Archives and are available to you, whether you want to see if they contain clues about your family's history, need to prove a veteran's military service, or are researching a historical topic that interests you.</p>  </section> <section id="block-aggregator-feed-1" class="block block-aggregator clearfix"> <div class="nwidget ncontainer nlarge_box" data-additional-classes="" data-alt-tag="file boxes" data-image="/files/global-images/portal/large/file-boxes.jpg" data-title="Research in Person" data-version="1"> <div class="panel panel-default box box-lg clearfix"> <div class="panel-heading"> <h2 class="block-title">What are people asking on History Hub?</h2> </div> <div class="panel-body"> <div class="box-image"> <a href='https://historyhub.history.gov/welcome'><img alt="historyhub" src="https://www.archives.gov/files/global-images/logos/history-hub-medium-150.png"></a> </div> <div class="box-content"> <ul><li><a href="https://historyhub.history.gov/crowd-loc/f/discussions/17349/german-transcription/102645">RE: German Transcription</a> </li> <li><a href="https://historyhub.history.gov/military-records/military-and-civilian-personnel-records/f/personnel-records-forum/43553/looking-for-photos-of-my-father-james-lee-eirand-wwii-uss-roosevelt-1946/102641">RE: Looking for photos of my father James Lee Eirand WWII USS Roosevelt 1946</a> </li> <li><a href="https://historyhub.history.gov/f/discussions/43663/i-am-looking-for-a-picture-from-ww2-name-is-douglas-john-christie-he-served-with-the-royal-army-service-corps-he-was-also-a-pow-and-number-was-pow-no-17776-he-was-captured-on-the-12-06-1940-thanks/102642">RE: I am looking for a picture from WW2. Name is Douglas John Christie. He served with the Royal Army Service Corps.He was also a POW and number was POW No. 17776. He was captured on the 12.06.1940 thanks</a> </li> <li><a href="https://historyhub.history.gov/f/discussions/43320/oss-in-burma-during-wwii/102637">RE: OSS in Burma during WWII</a> </li> <li><a href="https://historyhub.history.gov/f/discussions/43554/arecibo-observatory/102636">RE: Arecibo Observatory</a> </li> </ul> <p><a class="moreLink" href="https://historyhub.history.gov/welcome" id="researchrsslink">Find answers to your research questions at <strong>History Hub</strong></a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> <a name='sidebar'></a> <div id="sidebar" class="col-sm-3"> <aside id="sidebar-second"> <div> <div> <div class="nwidget nnews news-block" data-items="5" data-subject="" data-title="Research News and Notices"> <div class="widget-placeholder">News</div> <div class="dynamic-widget"><div><section class="block"> <h2>Research News and Notices</h2> </section></div></div> </div> <div class="nwidget layout block title-box clearfix " data-additional-classes="" data-title="FAQs"> <h2>FAQs</h2> <ul class="lines"> <li><a href="/research/start/faqs.html#website">Using the National Archives Web Site</a></li> <li><a href="/research/start/faqs.html#basics">Basics about Research at the National Archives</a></li> <li><a href="/research/start/faqs.html#visit">Visiting the National Archives</a></li> <li><a href="https://narations.blogs.archives.gov/2017/06/08/two-steps-every-researcher-should-take/">Two Steps Every Researcher Should Take</a></li> <li><a href="/research/start/faqs.html">All FAQs</a><br />  </li> </ul> <h2>Learning Resources</h2> <ul> <li>"<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/USNationalArchives/search?query=Know%20Your%20Records">Know Your Records</a>" series on YouTube</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="nwidget nsnippet" data-name="research_start_!menus" data-version="1"> <div class="widget-placeholder">Snippet</div> <div class="dynamic-widget"><div class="nwidget layout block title-box clearfix " data-additional-classes="" data-title="When You Arrive"> <h2>When You Arrive</h2> <ul> <li><a href="/research/start/researcher-card.html">Get your Research Card</a></li> <li><a href="/research/start/researcher-card.html#orientation">Orientation for Researchers</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="nwidget layout block title-box clearfix " data-additional-classes="" data-title="Rules"> <h2>Rules</h2> <ul> <li><a href="/research/research-room-guidance">Research Rooms Guidance</a></li> <li><a href="/research/research-room-rules">Research Room Rules</a></li> <li><a href="/research/start/access-by-minors.html">Research by Minors</a></li> <li><a href="/locations/building-access-security-requirements">Security Procedures</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="nwidget layout block title-box clearfix " data-additional-classes="" data-title="What to expect when you research at the National Archives"> <h2>What to expect when you research at the National Archives</h2> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5HNYhMlXYhU?rel=0"><img 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