New Hampshire keeps its public memory in many small places. No single archive holds everything. Records are split between the state offices in Concord, ten county governments, more than two hundred towns and cities, and local libraries and historical societies. Our directory lists five archive offices across the state, including the Dublin Town Archive, the Concord Vital Records Archive, the Goffstown Police Records Archive and the Portsmouth Library and Archive. This page explains how those pieces fit together so you can reach the right desk on your first try.

The first question to ask is always who created the record. A birth certificate began with a town clerk and the state. A deed was recorded by a county registry. A police report came from a local department. Once you know the creator, you usually know where the record lives.

Who Keeps Archives in New Hampshire: State, County and Town

Think of New Hampshire records in three layers. Each layer has its own staff, its own hours and its own rules.

At the state level, the Department of State oversees two relevant divisions. The Division of Archives and Records Management preserves the permanent records of state government. The Division of Vital Records Administration holds statewide birth, marriage, divorce and death records. Both are based in Concord, the state capital.

At the county level, each of the ten counties runs a registry of deeds. These registries record land transfers, mortgages, plans and liens. Several counties, including Hillsborough, operate more than one registry office because of their size. If your question is about who owned a parcel and when, the registry is your starting point, not a town archive.

At the town level, the elected town clerk is the key official. Clerks issue vehicle registrations, dog licenses and certified copies of local vital records. Town offices also hold selectmen's minutes, town meeting warrants, tax records, cemetery records and the annual town report. New Hampshire towns have published annual reports for generations, and these volumes are a surprisingly rich source for family and local history.

This layered setup means a small town can hold records that no state office has. It also means the quality of access varies. Some towns keep a dedicated archive room with a part-time archivist. Others keep boxes in a vault behind the clerk's counter.

State Laws That Shape Access to New Hampshire Records

Three bodies of state law do most of the work in New Hampshire. Knowing their names helps when you write a request.

The first is the Right-to-Know Law, RSA 91-A. It gives the public a right to inspect and copy most records held by state and local government. A public body must respond within five business days. It can grant the request, deny it with a reason, or acknowledge it and give a time estimate. The agency may charge the actual cost of making copies. Certain categories are exempt, including some personnel, medical and confidential law enforcement records.

The second is RSA 33-A, which governs how long municipalities must retain their records. Some items, such as town meeting records and vital entries, are kept permanently. Others may be destroyed after a set number of years. This is why a ten-year-old administrative file may be gone while an 1850s selectmen's ledger survives.

The third is RSA 5-C, the vital records statute. It limits who may obtain certified copies of recent birth, marriage and death records. In general, you must show a direct and tangible interest, such as being the person named, a parent, a spouse or a legal representative. Older records are treated differently and are more open to genealogists. Check the current age thresholds with the state before you travel.

If you believe a town wrongly refused a Right-to-Know request, New Hampshire has an Office of the Right-to-Know Ombudsman. It offers an informal route for disputes before anyone goes to court.

Dublin and Goffstown: Town-Level Records in Rural and Suburban New Hampshire

Dublin sits in the Monadnock region of southwestern New Hampshire, in Cheshire County. The Dublin Town Archive at 8 Church Street (603-563-8545) is a good example of how a small town handles its past. A community of this size does not run a large reading room. Expect limited hours, a small staff or volunteers, and a strong preference for appointments. Calling ahead saves a wasted trip.

Small-town archives tend to be strongest on local detail. You may find town reports, school records, property histories and minutes that never reached a state repository. They are weaker on indexing. Bring a specific name, street or year, because staff cannot always search an entire collection for you.

Cheshire County has a second listing in our directory, and the county seat of Keene also hosts the county registry of deeds. Combining a town archive visit with a registry visit makes for an efficient research day.

Goffstown is a different kind of place. It is a suburban town in Hillsborough County, close to Manchester. The Goffstown Police Records Archive at 326 Mast Road (603-497-2900) holds police department records rather than historical town papers. Those records fall under the Right-to-Know Law, but with more exemptions. Open investigations, juvenile matters and information that would identify protected parties are commonly withheld or redacted.

If you need a police record, send a written request that names the date, location and type of incident. Mention the report number if you have one. A specific request is answered faster than a broad one.

Concord and Portsmouth: Vital Records and Seacoast History

Concord is the seat of Merrimack County and of state government. The Concord Vital Records Archive at 71 South Fruit Street (603-271-4651) is the place to ask about statewide birth, marriage, divorce and death records. Statewide registration is largely a twentieth-century system. For earlier events, the town clerk where the event occurred often holds the original entry. If you are unsure which route applies, phone first and describe the event, the year and the town.

Concord also has other research stops within a short drive of each other. The state offices, the Merrimack County registry of deeds and the New Hampshire Historical Society are all in or near the capital. That concentration makes the city the best base for statewide genealogy.

Portsmouth lies in Rockingham County on the Piscataqua River. It was a colonial port and its records reflect that history: shipping, trade, merchant families and old waterfront property. The Portsmouth Library and Archive at 401 State Street (603-431-5202) serves researchers interested in the city and the wider Seacoast. Land records for the county are recorded at the Rockingham County Registry of Deeds in Brentwood, so a deed search means a separate trip.

Portsmouth also has other heritage organizations, such as the Portsmouth Athenaeum and Strawbery Banke Museum. Each has its own access policies, so contact them separately.

How to Prepare for a Visit to a New Hampshire Archive

A little preparation changes the outcome of most archive visits. Use this short checklist before you go:

Finally, be flexible about the source. If one office does not hold your record, ask where it was sent. In New Hampshire, the answer is often the town clerk, the county registry or the state archives in Concord.

Government archives in New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire residents.

Archives locations are available in 4 cities across New Hampshire. They are spread across 4 counties.

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

Residents of New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire to find the nearest location.

Seacoast, Merrimack Valley and Monadnock: How Access Differs Across New Hampshire

Where you live in New Hampshire affects how you reach an archive. The Seacoast around Portsmouth is dense, historic and well served by libraries, museums and a county registry in Brentwood. Researchers there often work with several institutions in a single trip, and the Portsmouth Library and Archive is one of the natural starting points.

The Merrimack Valley, anchored by Concord and Manchester, has the largest concentration of government offices. State vital records, state archives and the Merrimack County registry are close together. Hillsborough County, home to Goffstown, is the most populous county, so its offices handle high volume. Expect to book ahead or arrive early for in-person services.

The Monadnock region and other rural areas work on a smaller scale. Dublin is typical. Town offices may open only a few days a week, and the person who knows the collection best may be a volunteer. Phone calls and email are more reliable than drop-in visits. Distances also matter, since a rural resident may drive thirty minutes or more to reach a county registry.

Across all regions, winter weather can close offices on short notice. Check the town website or call on the morning of your visit. If you cannot travel, ask whether the office can mail a certified copy or scan a document. Many town clerks and state offices offer mail requests, usually with a fee and a signed application.

Frequently Asked Questions About Archives in New Hampshire

Under RSA 5-C, certified copies of recent vital records go to people with a direct and tangible interest. That usually means the person named, a parent, a spouse, or a legal representative. You will need photo identification and a completed application. You can ask the Concord Vital Records Archive at 71 South Fruit Street (603-271-4651) or the town clerk in the town where the birth occurred. Fees are set by law and can change, so confirm the current amount when you call.

RSA 91-A makes most municipal records open for inspection and copying. A written request is not always required, but it creates a clear record and helps if there is a dispute. The town must respond within five business days by granting access, denying with a reason, or giving a time estimate. It may charge the actual cost of copies. Some records, such as certain personnel files and confidential police material, are exempt. If you are refused, you can contact the Right-to-Know Ombudsman.

Deeds are recorded by county registries of deeds, not by town archives. Cheshire County's registry is in Keene, Merrimack County's is in Concord, and Rockingham County's is in Brentwood. Hillsborough County has two districts, with offices in Manchester and Nashua. Search by the owner's name and approximate date. Town assessing offices can help you identify a parcel number or the former owner first, which narrows the registry search considerably.

You can ask. The archive at 326 Mast Road, Goffstown, answers at 603-497-2900. Provide the date, location, type of incident and any report number. Police records are covered by RSA 91-A, but active investigations, juvenile information and details that could identify protected people are often withheld or redacted. Expect to show photo ID. A narrow request for one incident is processed faster than a request for every record about a person or address.

The Dublin Town Archive, at 8 Church Street (603-563-8545), is a small-town operation. Hours may be limited, so call ahead and describe what you want. Typical holdings include town reports, meeting minutes, property and school records, and local history files. Staff may not have time for open-ended searches. Bring names, years or street addresses. For vital records, you may also need the town clerk, who holds a separate set of files.

RSA 33-A sets municipal retention rules. Some records, including town meeting records and vital entries, must be kept permanently. Others may be destroyed after a stated number of years. Because of this, a missing routine file does not always mean it was lost by mistake. Ask the town clerk or the archive which retention category your record falls under. If it was lawfully destroyed, ask whether any summary appears in the annual town report or in the Portsmouth, Concord or county collections.