Many, many thanks to those who responded to my query re the National Archives. I've copied parts of some of the replies and am sending them to the list, there seemed to be several people interested. You've helped so much! Brenda << ****************************************************************************** ************* You may get several responces to this but here is my two cents.  I live in VA and have been into the archives several times so may be able to answer most of your questions.  I myself have a trip planned next week. > 1. What can I carry in? Pen or pencil? Bag, notebook, briefcase? Lunch? You may bring in most anything as far as pens and papers. I always have all my research notes in notebooks and papers, pens and folders. I even have a little pouch I carry with pen, pencils paperclips, sticky notes ect.  You will be stopped at the door and your bags searched (quickly) if you have a laptop or phone they will write down the id # on it so they can check it out when you leave. (they will also search you on the way out)   No food allowed although I usually take some candy like sweet tarts (hard type stuff) and no on has ever said anything.  There is a McDonalds and Wendys a couple of blocks away.  I usually do not eat as when I am there I want to spend as much time researching as possible. But when one of my family goes with me I have to take a break for food.    > 2. Can I request, view and copy a packet on my Rev. War ancestor(s) on the day of my visit to the library, even without a pension #? If you want to view pension records you really should put that request on that information in as soon as possible.  Ask the volunteers that are there when you first get off the elevator. (they are  much more helpful than the paid employess inside) for the microfilm roll number  of soldiers for your state.  They will get the appropriate information for you.  Then look on the rolls to get the appropriate numbers.  Then you will fill out an order form.  The reason you need to do this early is that they come from a different room and the wait is ususally at least two hours. During the summer with all the extra people there it may be more.  While you are waiting for that you can do your other reasearching.  You should also go get a "reader card" I think they call it while you are waiting as you will need to have one to get in the room where they let you read the special stuff (like pension).  The room where you get that is right next to the volunteer table.  The only thing you need to get one is a form of ID.  Oh ya in that room you will need to leave your stuff with someone or in a locker.  That room they provide you with papers and pencil.  You can bring nothing in that room except your copy card and I think a laptop.  You are dealing with the actual records there so they don't want any disappearing.  Most of the stuff you will be able to make copies of. Commercial break---Copy cards.  Take small currancy.  It cost $1.00 to buy a electronic card and then you can add incriments of 1, 5,10 and 20 dollars.  You must have the one dollar though to start the card.  Copys in the archives room are .25 a piece because the paper is so big for the census copy and in the other room I was telling you about it is .10 a copy.     The card is good indefinitly as I am using the same card I got last summer and have been there several times. > 3. Are land records available? Wills? Probate? > 4. Other than census records, what are the other best use materials that may be helpful for my research? All of my ancestors were in America before the Rev. The main state for research is VA, with PA and NY secondary. There are lots of records at the archives.  I have only been using the services of the census and war records and started on immigration so can not answer that question.  I know the book I bought about researching there mentions these things I have not gotten that far. If you can get a copy to read of the book Genealogical research in the National Archives it gives you a great idea of what is there.  The first time I went to the archives I felt a little lost there is so much to learn.  I probably am not always using my time to the best advantage but am learning as I go.  Use the volunteers if you have any questions they are very nice and very willing to help you out. Hope I have not rambled to much and given you some ideas on what to do.  If you have any more questions feel free to ask and I will try to answer them.  ***************************************************************************** ************* Answers to your questions re Archives. 1.  All okay with possible exception of lunch. You could probably carry it in, but you couldn't eat it in research room. If you visit in nice weather, though, there are benches outside building--lovely place to sit, eat, and enjoy the passersby. 2.  Service jacket can be seen on microfilm reader and Xeroxed for 50 cents per page. Pension folder can be ordered for reading in research room. Ordering takes about an hour. You are not permitted to take anything except a pencil and paper into the research room (no pens). Lockers are availablefree of charge in the hallway. Bring quarters to activate lockers. Quarters returned when you retrieve your belongings. 3.  Land, probate, will, orphans court records not available so far as I know. These are typicallly held at county and state offices. General remarks: Bring small bills (ones) for purchasing a card that activates the Xerox machine in the Census room. Copies of pages from census books cost 10 cents each. When you locate the census file you are interested in, you may view it on the microfilm reader. The old records are frequently very faint and hard to read. I have never tried to get Xerox copies of these records, but I assume you could make them, just as you can make copies of service jackets and their contents. Another observation: working at Archives takes TIME. The place is busy, and frequently one must wait in line for a microfilm reader. Then finding the microfilm and trying to decipher old, faint handwriting is slow. You should, by all means, go to Archives. It is a great source of information, as is the Library of Congress, which has a fine genealogy room. If you go to the Library of Congress, remember that you enter the genealogy room from the back of the building (on 2nd street) as opposed to the front, which is a museum containing such artifacts as the Constitution, etc. ***************************************************************************** *************** You may carry in, your notebook, briefcase, pen and pencils.  I recomend more than one pen or pencile, in case one breaks, or runs out of ink, or rolls under the microfilm reader. I don't know about your lunch.  If your going to the Ft. Worth, TX branch, it would be ok. 2.) Yes, Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Files. are on M-804.  There is an index book, (usually found on the top of the filling cabnet) look in this index for your surname, it will tell you what roll number in the M-804 series to look at. As it is more the possible to find more than one person with the same name. Make sure you take with you notes, on other identifing facts of your ancestor. ie) wife and childern's names if known Also the, microfilm series M-860 is a General index to Compiled Military Service Records of Revolutionary War Soldiers. ***Ask when you first arrive at the Archives for a list of RECORDS AVAIABLE. It will help you alot.***** The Ft. Worth Archives, charges $1.75 per copy of thier microfilm pages.. and military records can run several pages. You may want to call your Archives in advance to find out what they charge, so you are preparded. ***************************************************************************** ************* The only records you will find at the National Archives are Federal Records. This includes Federal Land Records and Revolutionary War Pension Records. There are no state or county records there. You are allowed a pencil or pen and paper. Any bags, purses, briefcases etc. must be deposited in a locker, so take some change, as the locker requires a quarter deposit (at least the one in San Bruno does). You keep the key to the locker, so you do have access to it whenever you want in case you need another pen, more paper etc. It might be a good idea to take a lunch, unless you know there's someplace near you can eat. Your lunch will have to be deposited in the locker also, and you'll probably have to take it outside to eat, maybe even to your car if the weather's bad. I don't know of any that provide an inside eating facility. You can copy records, and as I recall, there was no charge for that. It's been awhile since I've been there, so maybe someone else could tell you for sure. There will be someone there who can tell you how to use the records. I found them very helpful. ***************************************************************************** ****************** Try this URL:  <http://www.nara.gov/>http://www.nara.gov/ It is the homepage of the National Archives.  You can then link to other areas on their site.  If you "click" on the "Genealogy" hyperlink---it should give you a good bit of info, as well as their other areas also.  Hope that helps. ***************************************************************************** *******************   >>