Introduction

The rudiments of archives can be traced back to the 4th session of the Indian Historical Records Commission held at Delhi in the year 1922. For the first time the Government of U.P. was urged by a resolution to establish a Central Record Office for fostering historical research in the State. As a sequel to a number of resolutions passed during subsequent sessions of the Commission, the Government of U.P. in the General Administration Department decided vide their G.O. No. 3525 (5)/III-120-1946 dated June. 5, 1947 to set up a Central Record Office at Prayagraj so that records of historical importance which have ceased to be of administrative use may be concentrated in a central place for the purpose of historical research and their maintenance in a manner most conductive to their better preservation.

It, however, took nearly two years to set up the office. Dr. G.N. Saletore took over charge as the Keeper of Records on May. 2, 1949. The post was later on redesignated as the Keeper of Archives and Dr. Saletore was the Keeper of Archives uptill September 2, 1970 when Dr. K.P. Srivastava succeeded him. The post was subsequently redesignated as the Director, U.P. State Archives.

The office was originally under the Department of Education U.P., but in 1958 it was placed under the newly created Department of Indology and Culture which was subsequently redesignated as the Department of Cultural Affairs and Scientific Research and later on in May, 1975 as the Department of Cultural Affairs. This office is now under the administrative control of the Department of culture, U.P. Government.