36 CFR § 1256.20 - May I obtain access to Federal archival records?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t36/s1256.20"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "36 CFR § 1256.20 - May I obtain access to Federal archival records?"
title_number: 36
title_name: "Parks, Forests, and Public Property"
section_number: "1256.20"
section_name: "May I obtain access to Federal archival records?"
chapter_name: "NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION"
subchapter_number: "C"
subchapter_name: "PUBLIC AVAILABILITY AND USE"
part_number: "1256"
part_name: "ACCESS TO RECORDS AND DONATED HISTORICAL MATERIALS"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "44 U.S.C. 2101-2118; 22 U.S.C. 1461(b); 5 U.S.C. 552; E.O. 12958 (60 FR 19825, 3 CFR, 1995 Comp., p. 333; E.O. 13292, 68 FR 15315, 3 CFR, 2003 Comp., p. 196; E.O. 13233, 66 FR 56023, 3 CFR, 2001 Comp., p. 815."
regulatory_source: "69 FR 39325, June 30, 2004, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "1256"
---


# 1256.20 May I obtain access to Federal archival records?

(a) Most Federal archival records are open for research without submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Part 1254 specifies procedures for using unrestricted records in a NARA research room, submitting reference requests, and ordering copies of records.

(b) Some records are subject to restrictions prescribed by statute, Executive Order, or by restrictions specified in writing in accordance with 44 U.S.C. 2108 by the agency that transferred the records to the National Archives of the United States. All agency-specified restrictions must comply with the FOIA. Even if the records are not national-security classified, we must screen some records for other information exempt from release under the FOIA.