Archiwum Państwowe w Białymstoku

The State Archive in Bialystok came into existence according to the Decree of the Minister of Education from November 10th 1950, however the Archive started work more than 2 years later, in April 1953. The holdings of the State Archive in Bialystok increased slowly. At the beginning it was only 55 running meters. The Archive gradually was taking over documents from liquidated institutions and organizations. 

The State Archive in Białystok possesses about 1500 collections and archival founds, which makes more than 166 000 units and 1843 running meters. There are archival materials from the 17th century. “Księga grodzka drohicka” – The municipal book from Drohiczyn 1640 is the oldest document in the holding. Other collections deserving special attention are: “Kamera Wojny i Domen” 1793–1807 (documents made by Prussian authorities in the time of annexation) and Starszy Notariusz Sądu Okręgowego w Grodnie 1883 – 1914 (files made by a notary at the district court in Hrodna). The State Archive gathers state, self-government, and judicial documents, notarial files, birth, marriage, death records, documents from financial institutions, social and cooperative organizations, associations and parties, factories, public utilities. However there is no documents made by the Soviet and German authorities during their occupation in Poland during the World War II. The Archive also stores maps, plans, photographs collections. Some of the aforementioned documents are recorded on microfilms. 

The access is regulated by Instruction No. 4 of the Head Office of State Archives in Poland, dated February 1, 2013.