Mission 

The collecting mission of the National Transportation Library Archives is twofold: 

1.  To preserve historical records of DOT offices and employees, insofar as they have permanent historical value.    
2. To acquire, preserve, and provide access to a wide range of research materials including books, manuscripts, archives, audio-visual materials, objects, and other items in support of the educational and research activities of DOT's various constituencies. 

Our mission to acquire and preserve materials is coupled with our commitment to outreach and access. We catalog materials according to national standards established by the American Library Association and the Society of American Archivists. 

Purpose 

The National Transportation Library Archives Development Policy provides the framework for the acquisition of materials to support the NTL's mission to promote research of the history of the Department of Transportation (DOT). The National Transportation Library (NTL) builds collections to support government research, academic scholarship, education, and engagement by DOT employees and the public. 

The Archives is the repository for DOT records of permanent historical value. To support that mission, the Archives collects a wide range of materials documenting the history of the Institution. The Archives supports research by a wide range of patrons including researchers, employees, and others whose work relies on historical resource materials. 

Archival records will be assessed and collected in accordance with applicable laws, NARA guidelines, and DOT’s Records Management policy. 

Collecting Rationale 

The NTL Archives seeks historical materials that:

• document the history of the U.S. DOT
• enhance, complement, or diversify established holdings
• foster connections among the NTL’s collections and staff
• commemorate the diverse individuals and organizations that make up the U.S. DOT
• support the U.S. DOT's research and community engagement missions 

The Archives seeks collection materials through donation or purchase that fulfill the above criteria. Acquisitions that do not fall into existing collecting priorities may be accepted in anticipation of changing research needs and interests. In evaluating a prospective acquisition, staff also consider the attendant costs of processing, housing, preserving, and providing long-term access. Collection decisions are made at the discretion of the Archivist/Historian, with final approval by the NTL’s Director.

The Archivist reviews the Collection Development Policy on a periodic basis. 

Scope 

The Archives’ primary responsibility is to serve the research needs of DOT staff and researchers. To this end, the department seeks to build collections in subject areas that receive substantial and sustained attention within the transportation community. 

Examples of Subject Areas Collected: 

• General history of the U.S. DOT 
• Oral histories of employees  
• Collections from current and previously existing DOT modes, including the following:  
  • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 
  •  Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)
  •  Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) 
  • Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)  
  • Federal Transit Administration (FTA) 
  • Maritime Administration (MARAD) 
  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 
  • Office of the Inspector General (OIG) 
  • Office of the Secretary (OST)
  • Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
  • Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC)

Additionally, the Department collects historical records from previous DOT departments, including the Civil Aeronautics Board and the Bureau of Public Roads.  

Examples of collections held by the NTL Archives include: 

• DOT Orders 
• Newsletters and news releases
• Models of airplanes and spacecrafts
• State road maps
• Compilation of Secretary of Transportations’ speeches 

Types of materials 

The NTL Archives collects analog materials, including books, journals, newspapers, maps, manuscripts, ephemeral materials (programs, posters, flyers, etc.), film, video, and some three-dimensional objects. Emphasis is placed on acquiring items in their original states. At this point, the Archives primarily collects analog materials. Digital materials can be archived, but long-term management is under the Data Curator’s purview.  

Physical condition of acquisitions 

Because the Archives does not have dedicated preservation and conservation resources, it is vital to acquire materials in the best possible physical condition. In general, if the costs involved in repairing and storing damaged materials are beyond the means of the NTL’s budget, the Archivist may decline the potential accessions. 

Duplicate copies 

Given the limitations on storage space for our collections, the Archives cannot accept duplicate copies of items already held in the Archives. Exceptions may be made in instances where a second copy has unique features, but the general rule is against adding redundant copies of published works. In the case of DOT publications and ephemera, a limited number of copies of each item may be retained. 
 

You can discover archival materials by searching the finding aids in ArchivesSpace. Finding aids provide information about a collection’s title, creator, date, subject, scope and contents, and historical context. They also include a container inventory listing the materials in the collection and where they can be found. If an item has been digitized, you will see a link to view the digital object in Rosa P, the Library's catalog. 

While we are working to bring our materials online as quickly as possible, most of our collections can only be accessed physically. For access to physical materials, please contact us through LibAnswers to request a digital copy or to schedulable a visit to the Archives.

The archives are open to visitors Monday through Thursday from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M, by appointment only. Contact us through LibAnswers to schedule an appointment. Please let us know which materials you would like to examine so we can be prepared for your visit. 

What to expect when you arrive

The NTL Archives is located in the U.S. DOT Headquarters building at 1200 New Jersey Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. Use the main visitor’s entrance, which faces New Jersey Avenue SE and has a rounded awning. You will have to check in at the front desk, present a government-issued picture ID, and pass through security before entering the building further. The archivist will meet you at the visitor’s entrance and walk you to the Archives. More detailed instructions will be provided when you schedule your appointment. 

Preparing for your visit

You are welcome to bring laptops, tablets, other small devices, and their chargers. Notebooks and pencils are welcome as well. Water bottles are permitted if they have a cap that seals completely. 

Food, beverages, and ink pens are not permitted near the archival materials. You are welcome to bring these things into the building for later use, but they must be stored while the materials are out.  
 

Research support

The NTL Archives offers a variety of services to support your research needs, including: 

• Reference services through the NTL’s LibAnswers platform 
• On-site assistance during research visits
• Scans of materials that are not yet digitized (if available)

Educational programming 

We host outreach events for DOT employees, researchers, students, and the public, including:

• Orientation programming for new DOT employees to:
  • Learn about the history of their agency
  • Familiarize themselves with the NTL Archives’ resources
• Field trips for students (you can read about one here)

To inquire about educational programming, please contact LibAnswers. 

The history of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the general history of transportation in the United States are documented in several locations. We’ve compiled this list of digital resources to help you get started.

General U.S. DOT History

• A Journey of 50 Years – a story map of the U.S. DOT's history, from 1967-2017
• Federal Register – links to published documents
• Transportation Administrations – summaries of administrations’ missions
• Transportation Policy History – Eno Center for Transportation
• Urban Transportation Planning in the United States: An Historical Overview 
• U.S. DOT History Site – Includes biographies of the Secretaries of Transportation, dates of administrators' service, descriptions of the modes, and a chronology of significant events in DOT's history.
• U.S. DOT at 50: The Early Years – compiled for the 50th anniversary, April 1, 2017

Federal Aviation Administration

• History Department Website - Includes chronology, lists of resources, photographs, administrator biographies, and more
• "Photographs throughout Aviation History" – FAA’s Flickr site

Federal Highway Administration

• FHWA's History Website 

Federal Railway Administration

• Federal Railway Administration’s eLibrary

Federal Transit Association

• A Brief History of Mass Transit
• The Federal Transit Program Turns 60

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

• FMCSA Newsroom 

Maritime Administration

• Maritime Administration History Program 

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

• Federal Register

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

• PHMSA’s website

St. Lawrence Seaway

• St. Lawrence Seaway Milestones

U.S. Coast Guard (previously part of the U.S. DOT)

• US Coast Guard Historian's Office

Volpe Center

• Volpe Journal - 30th Anniversary: A Special Edition

• Five Decades | Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (dot.gov)

What are archives? How are archives different from libraries?

An archive is an organization that collects, preserves, and provides access to records. The term archive can also refer to the records themselves. Like libraries, we organize information and strive to meet the information needs of researchers. Unlike libraries, we focus primarily on historical preservation, collecting more unpublished materials.

I’m looking for ____. Should I search ArchivesSpace or ROSA P, the NTL's catalog?

Search ROSA P for more recent publications, born-digital materials, technical reports, datasets, and other research-oriented resources. Search ArchivesSpace for historical and unpublished materials. 
While all the NTL Archives’ digital objects can be found on ROSA P, we recommend beginning your search for digitized archival materials in ArchivesSpace because it accommodates the multi-level nature of archival description. After locating a record in ArchivesSpace, you can follow the link in the finding aid to view the digital object on ROSA P. 

What types of materials do you have?

We collect a wide variety of analog materials, including books, journals, newspapers, maps, manuscripts, ephemera (programs, posters, flyers, etc.), film, video, and some three-dimensional objects. Our collections document the general history of the Department of Transportation, including precursor agencies and spanning all current and past modes. 

Can I visit the archives?

Yes, anyone can visit the NTL Archives! We’re here for researchers, students, government employees, and the public. We are open by appointment only, Monday-Thursday, 10-4. Contact us through LibAnswers to make an appointment. The NTL Archives are located at 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SW in Washington, D.C.

Are all of the materials available online? 

No, most of our materials have not yet been digitized. We are working to bring more materials online as quickly as possible. 

How can I access materials that aren’t online?

Contact us through LibAnswers to request scans of materials or schedule a visit to the Archives.

Who can I contact if I have additional questions?

Please use LibAnswers to contact us with your questions.