Public Archives & Records for Treasure Research (By Country)
Every country maintains public archives containing land records, military documents, court filings, maps, and personal papers. These are the primary sources that power serious treasure research. Below is a curated directory organized by country.
🇺🇸 United States
National Archives (NARA)
archives.gov
Military records, land patents, census, immigration, and government correspondence. Multiple locations nationwide.
BLM GLO Records
glorecords.blm.gov
Federal land patents, survey plats, and field notes. Essential for western U.S. land research.
Chronicling America
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov
Library of Congress newspaper archive — millions of digitized pages from 1770 to 1963.
Library of Congress Maps
loc.gov/maps
Over 5.5 million maps including Sanborn fire insurance maps, historical atlases, and military maps.
FamilySearch
familysearch.org
Largest free genealogical database — census, church, vital records, and probate records.
Newspapers.com
newspapers.com
Massive searchable newspaper archive with OCR text search. Broader coverage than Chronicling America.
Fold3
fold3.com
Military records, pension files, draft cards, and service records. Strong Civil War coverage.
County Courthouses
Land deeds, mining claims, probate, tax rolls, and court records. Visit in person or request copies.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
The National Archives (TNA)
nationalarchives.gov.uk
Central UK government records — wills, military, admiralty, colonial, and criminal records.
British Newspaper Archive
britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk
Over 40 million newspaper pages from the 1700s to 2000s.
Historic England
historicengland.org.uk
Heritage records, listed buildings, scheduled monuments, and archaeological site databases.
Portable Antiquities Scheme
finds.org.uk
Database of archaeological finds reported by the public. Essential for UK-based treasure research.
Ordnance Survey Historical Maps
maps.nls.uk
National Library of Scotland hosts digitized OS maps spanning centuries.
🇪🇸 Spain
Archivo General de Indias
mecd.gob.es
Primary archive for Spanish colonial history — shipping manifests, cargo records, and colonial correspondence. Critical for shipwreck research.
Archivo Histórico Nacional
mecd.gob.es/cultura-mecd/areas-cultura/archivos/mc/ahn
Spanish national historical archive — noble families, religious orders, and government records.
🌍 International & Multi-Country
David Rumsey Map Collection
davidrumsey.com
Over 100,000 digitized historical maps from around the world. Invaluable for geographic research.
Internet Archive
archive.org
Millions of digitized books, newspapers, and documents. Search for out-of-print treasure hunting references.
Google Books
books.google.com
Searchable text of millions of books — find references to locations, events, and individuals in published works.
Ancestry.com
ancestry.com
Global genealogical records across dozens of countries — verify individuals mentioned in legends.
Learn How to Use These Archives Effectively
Knowing where archives are is the first step. The Treasure Hunter's Research Guide teaches you how to navigate them — what to search for, how to evaluate what you find, and how to build a research case from archival evidence.
Get the Research Guide→Related Pages
Treasure Research Intelligence
Archive guides, database updates, and research tools for treasure hunters.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
Explore More Topics
Consciousness
Meditation, mindfulness, and cognitive enhancement techniques.
AI & Technology
Artificial intelligence, ethics, and the future of consciousness.
Spirituality
Sacred traditions, meditation, and transformative practice.
Wealth Building
Financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and abundance mindset.
Preparedness
Emergency planning, survival skills, and self-reliance.
Survival
Wilderness skills, urban survival, and community resilience.