The USGS Field Records Library is an archival collection of materials generated by Survey scientists during project work. Most of the collection dates from after the establishment of the USGS in 1879, although the collection includes earlier materials from the exploration surveys of the 1870s. The archives are organized by project, and are catalogued under the author or field-party chief, with additional indexing by geographic location, subjects, coauthors, or project assistants, and related USGS publications. The Field Records Library is open to the public and visitors are welcome. Requests can also be made by letter, telephone, or e-mail.
Most materials relate to the project work done in the contiguous United States.