Heritage & History

Tamil Nadu Archives, Egmore: Who Can Use It and How to Apply

The Tamil Nadu Archives in Egmore opens records over 30 years old to researchers. Here is who qualifies, the fees, the rules and how to request files.

19 October 2026

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Updated 2026-10-29, 2:05 AM

Anyone doing serious research can use the Tamil Nadu Archives at 51 Gandhi Irwin Road, Egmore, but you need to enrol first: the Archives research page lists an enrolment fee of ₹200 and a refundable security deposit of ₹500. Records more than 30 years old are open; newer files are treated as current and are not issued.

Below is who qualifies, what you cannot see, how requisitions work in the research hall, and a few tips that will save you a wasted trip to Egmore.

What the Archives hold

The Archives grew out of a decision taken in 1805, when Governor Lord William Bentinck pooled the records of the Madras Presidency’s departments under a Record Keeper. Before that, papers were kept in the Council Room of Fort House. According to the Archives’ own history, the government chose the land called Grassmere in Egmore for a fireproof record office, sanctioned ₹3,49,249 for it in August 1907, and the Madras Record Office began work in 1909. It took its present name, Tamil Nadu Archives and Historical Research, in 1973.

The holdings run from the East India Company period to the present state government: proceedings, government orders, gazettes, district records and more. Scholars have been allowed in to consult them since 1930. The department also runs district record centres in Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Salem, Coimbatore, Madurai and Cuddalore (DutchCulture).

Who can get access

The research rules accept these as bona fide scholars:

Members of the Indian Historical Records Commission.
Vice-Chancellors, professors and researchers of recognised Indian universities.
Postgraduate researchers with a certificate from a university head, research guide or college principal, or other documentary proof of their research.
Government officials, with their head of department’s approval and a No Objection Certificate.
Others the Special Commissioner accepts on special grounds.

Family historians are not shut out. The rules allow old, non-confidential records to be made available for personal family research if you show documentary proof of the purpose. Foreign researchers need one of these: a consular certificate plus a letter from their institution, proof of access to the National Archives of India in the previous six months, or Government of India clearance for the project.

How to apply and request documents

Register online through the one-time user registration on the Archives website, then apply in writing to the Special Commissioner and Commissioner of Archives and Historical Research on the prescribed form.
Attach your certificate or proof of purpose.
Pay the ₹500 deposit at the State Bank of India, Egmore branch. It is refunded once you deposit a copy of the thesis or work based on the records.
In the research hall, fill in a requisition slip for each record and drop it in the tray for that stack. You get a Record Issue Card to show when records are issued and returned.

Requisitions are cleared on working days at 10.30 am, 12.30 pm and 3.30 pm. The stacks are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, so order in advance if you plan a weekend session. You can hold up to ten documents at a time, and fragile records come out only after repair.

What you cannot see, and house rules

Closed series: inam fair registers, old settlement registers, field measurement books and field maps are not issued, because they relate to individual landholdings.
Formerly secret files: reviewed case by case, and doubtful ones may be referred to the government.
Copies: photographs, microfilm or tracing need written permission, and are refused if the document could be damaged. Photocopying and microfilming are available as services.
Handling: notes in pencil or ballpoint only; do not lean on, stack or write on records; use book rests for large volumes; keep silent.

Timings and practical tips

The research hall runs from 8 am to 8 pm on working days and 10 am to 5 pm on holidays, with no more than 15 notified closures a year. The research page says Sundays are closed, while the rules list weekend hours, so phone 044-28190355 or 28190855 to confirm before you go. Emails go to cmr.tnahr@tn.gov.in or tnarchives_rh@nic.in.

Search the online record indices first so you arrive with reference numbers.
If you cannot visit, the rules allow a search to be made for you for a fee, paid with the request.
Permission lasts for a period stated in writing; renew before it lapses to avoid re-submitting certificates.

For land disputes, note that settlement registers and field maps are closed here; certified land records come through the revenue department instead. Consult a lawyer if documents are needed for a case.

Quick answers

Can the general public use the Tamil Nadu Archives?

Access is for bona fide researchers, but old non-confidential records can be opened for family research with documentary proof.

What does it cost?

₹200 to enrol and a ₹500 refundable deposit.

How old must a record be?

More than 30 years.

Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.