How Archives Work Across Alabama's 67 Counties

Alabama has no single office that holds every public record. Archives services are split between one state agency, 67 county courthouses and a growing number of city departments. Our database lists 24 archive offices in the state, from the Alabama Archive on Washington Avenue in Montgomery to the Winston County Archive in Double Springs. The fastest way to find a record is to work out which level of government created it.

The rule of thumb is simple. State government papers and historical manuscripts go to the state archives. Deeds, wills, estate files and marriage records stay with the county probate judge. Court case files belong to the circuit clerk. Police reports remain with the department that wrote them, and city council minutes sit with the city clerk.

That split explains why listing names vary so much. A "County Archive" may be a records room in the courthouse, a records office or a local history collection. Read the name and street address first, then phone before you travel. Many offices are small, and a short call can save a wasted trip.

The Alabama Department of Archives and History in Montgomery

The Alabama Department of Archives and History, usually shortened to ADAH, is the state's official archives. The legislature created it in 1901, and it is widely recognized as the first state-funded archival agency in the country. It stands at 624 Washington Avenue in Montgomery, directly across from the State Capitol. Our directory lists it as the Alabama Archive, reachable at 334-242-4435.

ADAH keeps the permanent records of state government, including governors' papers, legislative materials and agency files. It also holds Confederate pension applications, military records, newspapers, maps, photographs and family papers. Genealogists, students, attorneys and reporters all rely on it. Its work is set out in the Code of Alabama, which also establishes the State Records Commission and the Local Government Records Commission. Those bodies approve retention schedules. A schedule tells an agency how long it must keep each type of record before destroying it or transferring it to the archives.

For historical research, ADAH is usually the best first call. Staff can tell you whether the record you want is in Montgomery or still with a county office. They can also point you to microfilm copies of some county records, which saves a long drive to a rural courthouse.

Montgomery has more listings than any other city in our database. Besides ADAH, there is the Montgomery Archive at 715 Shady Street (334-242-4306) and the Montgomery County Archive at 100 South Lawrence Street (334-832-7173). You can see all three on the Montgomery County page. Because the capital also houses state agencies, it pays to confirm whether your record is a local or a state document before you pick a building.

Probate Offices, Police Records and Municipal Archives: Who Holds What

In Alabama, the probate judge is the county's main keeper of land and family documents. The probate office records deeds and mortgages, files wills, administers estates and handles marriage records. Several probate-related offices appear in our listings:

Police records archives are a different kind of office. Our database includes the Bessemer Police Records Archive, the Daphne Police Records Archive, the Gulf Shores Police Records Archive, the Pelham Police Records Archive and the Phenix Police Records Archive. These typically handle incident reports and accident reports. The Alabama Open Records Act, found at Section 36-12-40 of the Code of Alabama, gives citizens a right to inspect and copy public writings. There are exceptions. Active investigations and some personal details can be withheld, and agencies may charge reasonable copying fees.

City archives cover municipal business. The Mobile Municipal Archive at 457 Church Street (251-208-7740) serves a city the French founded in 1702, so its history runs far deeper than most Alabama municipalities. In Valley, the Valley City Records Archive at 20 Fob James Drive (334-756-5214) is the place for city-level documents, while the Valley Archive at 3419 20th Avenue (334-768-2050) is a second listing in the same city. Both sit in Chambers County.

Metro Birmingham, the Gulf Coast and Rural Counties: Regional Differences

Where you live changes how easy it is to get a record. In metro Birmingham, Jefferson County is unusual because it runs courthouse services from two locations, Birmingham and Bessemer. That is why the Birmingham probate office and the Bessemer Police Records Archive at 23 15th Street North (205-425-5713) are both in the county. Next door, Shelby County has the Shelby County Archive at 1854 North Main Street in Columbiana (205-669-3912) and the Pelham Police Records Archive at 32 Philip Davis Street (205-620-6443). Suburban offices tend to have more staff and more predictable hours.

On the Gulf Coast, Baldwin County has three listings. The Baldwin County Public Records Archive is at 220 Courthouse Square in Bay Minette (251-937-0230). Daphne and Gulf Shores each have a police records archive, at 1502 US Highway 98 and 220 Clubhouse Drive. Growth and tourism add to the paperwork, so expect real queues at busy times of year.

The Tennessee Valley in north Alabama has a dense cluster of courthouse archives. Lawrence County has two Moulton listings: the Lawrence County Archive at 698 Main Street (256-974-1757) and the Lawrence County Records Archive at 14451 Market Street (256-974-2440). Nearby are the Limestone County Archive in Athens (256-233-6404) and the Morgan County Archive in Decatur (256-351-4726).

Rural counties such as Winston, Franklin and Cherokee run smaller operations. The Winston County Archive is at 25155 Alabama 195 in Double Springs (205-489-5035), and the Franklin County Archive is at 300 East Limestone Street in Russellville (256-332-8827). Small offices may have one or two staff, limited hours and no walk-in research help. Calling ahead is essential there.

Preparing for a Visit to an Alabama Archive

A little preparation makes any visit shorter. Use this checklist before you leave home:

If the first office cannot help, ask who else might hold the record. Staff in Alabama courthouses usually know exactly where a document was moved, and a referral often solves the problem in one more call.

Government archives in Alabama are administered by the state archives and records management division, which is typically housed within the Secretary of State's office or a dedicated cultural affairs agency. The state archives preserves official government records while also maintaining collections of historical significance to Alabama residents.

Archives locations are available in 20 cities across Alabama. They are spread across 16 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Montgomery, Moulton, Valley, which tend to have more archives facilities due to their roles as county seats, state capitals, or historic centers of government activity.

Residents of Alabama conducting genealogical or historical research should check whether their county or city maintains a separate archives in addition to the state repository, as many local records are held at the municipal or county level.

Archives by Counties

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Researchers in Alabama can often access digitized state archives records through the state library's online portal without visiting in person. For records not yet digitized, contact the archives office in advance to schedule a research appointment and confirm that the specific collection is available for public review.

Browse Archives by county across Alabama to find the nearest location.

Practical Notes for Searching Alabama Records

Alabama's history leaves gaps that you should plan for. Courthouse fires, floods and storms have damaged county records over the years, and some counties have thin coverage for the 1800s. When a courthouse file is missing, check whether the Alabama Department of Archives and History, a local library or a county historical society holds copies or microfilm. Substitute sources such as church registers, newspapers and census schedules can fill in many gaps.

County boundaries also moved during the nineteenth century. Winston County, for example, was first created under a different name before it was renamed in 1858, so very old papers may sit under an earlier county. If your search comes up empty, try neighboring counties from the same period. In north Alabama, Madison County in Huntsville is a good example of a busy probate office where indexes are well organized and staff field many research calls.

Finally, match the question to the office. A land title question goes to probate. A criminal case goes to the circuit clerk. A traffic accident goes to the police records unit. A historical paper trail often begins in Montgomery.

ADAH, listed in our database as the Alabama Archive at 624 Washington Avenue in Montgomery, keeps the permanent records of state government. That includes governors' papers, legislative materials, agency files, Confederate pension applications, military records, newspapers, maps and photographs. It also collects private family papers and organizational records. It is mainly a research institution, so it does not issue deeds or marriage records. Call 334-242-4435 before you visit to ask about reading room rules, what identification to bring and whether the material you want can be seen on microfilm or in digital form.

Start with the probate office in the county where the land sits or where the person lived. Alabama probate judges record deeds and mortgages, file wills and oversee estates. Our listings include probate-related offices in Birmingham (Jefferson County), Huntsville (Madison County), Wetumpka (Elmore County) and Centre (Cherokee County). Bring the owner's name, the approximate date and, for land, any parcel or legal description you have. Larger counties often offer indexes on public terminals, while smaller ones may need staff to pull the books for you.

Contact the police records archive for that city. Daphne is at 1502 US Highway 98 (251-621-2809), Gulf Shores at 220 Clubhouse Drive (251-968-1136), Pelham at 32 Philip Davis Street (205-620-6443) and Bessemer at 23 15th Street North (205-425-5713). Have the report number, date, location and names of those involved ready. The Alabama Open Records Act supports public access, but active investigations and certain personal details may be withheld. Departments may charge a copying fee, so ask about payment methods before you go.

Generally no. Certified birth and death certificates come from the Alabama Department of Public Health, whose vital records office is in Montgomery. Statewide registration began in the early twentieth century, so older events may not appear there. For those, ask the probate office in the relevant county, then check ADAH and local libraries for substitutes such as church records, cemetery listings and newspaper notices. Marriage records are usually kept by the county probate office where the marriage was recorded, and the Elmore County listing in Wetumpka is one example.

Looking at a public record is generally free under the Alabama Open Records Act, which gives citizens the right to inspect and copy public writings unless a law says otherwise. Copies, certified copies and research requests can carry fees, and those amounts are set by each office. Always ask before you request a large batch of pages. Some records are restricted, such as sealed court files or active law enforcement material, so a refusal does not always mean the office is being unhelpful.

Phone first. The Winston County Archive in Double Springs (205-489-5035) and the Franklin County Archive in Russellville (256-332-8827) are small offices where one employee may handle many duties. Ask what days staff are available, whether you need an appointment and whether older books are stored off site. Bring exact names and dates, a photo ID and a way to pay for copies. If the office cannot find your record, ask whether ADAH in Montgomery holds a microfilm copy or whether another county office might have it.