Municipal Archives
Physical Address:
457 Church Street
Mobile, AL 36602
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1827
Mobile, AL 36633-1827
Office: (251) 208-7740
Fax: (251) 208-7428
e-mail
Hours:
8-5 Mon-Fri
THE MOBILE MUNICIPAL ARCHIVES
The Mobile Municipal Archives was established in 1983. The MMA contains the extant records of the City of Mobile, dating from the city's creation as a municipality by the Mississippi territory in 1814. The original records of Mobile's colonial history (1702-1813) are housed principally in London, Paris, Sevilla and Madrid.
RESEARCH IN THE MOBILE MUNICIPAL ARCHIVES
The MMA houses chiefly official records of the City of Mobile. It contains few private manuscripts, and generally accessions no records other than those produced by municipal agencies. Although the records date from 1814, they became numerous only after 1820. Holdings at present total 12,000 cubic feet.
The MMA operates a complex records management program for the City of Mobile. In addition to the Archives, there is a Records Center which determines the eventual disposition of all municipal records.
Academics have access to a variety of findings aids, including computer assisted retrieval, folder level inventories, item level calendars and a printed guide describing the entire holdings of the Archives.
RECORDS USE AND SERVICE
Materials in the archives are available to historical researchers as well as to Municipal officials and employees.
If you have extensive research to do, please call ahead and speak with the Archivist or Assistant Archivist so that we may be prepared to better assist you when you arrive.
Researchers are required to register upon entering the Archives. Xerox and microfilm copies are available for 10 cents. Certain records are subject to restrictions by State and Federal law. All records are used under the supervision of the staff.
Links of Interest
Mobile Public Library's Local History & Genealogy Department
Probate Court of Mobile County
The Alabama Department of Archives & History
Genealogical Materials in the New Orleans Public Library's Louisana Division & City Archives
University of South Alabama Photographic Archives
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