The regional archives were founded in the years 1963 - 1964, joining the small regional and municipal archives. The 11 regional state archives preserve more than 4,8 million volumes of records of the local governmental administration, enterprises, offices, organisations, etc., created in the period of the Soviet occupational regime (1944 - 1991). An important part of the funds constitute the files of industrial and agricultural enterprises.

After the restoration of independence of the Republic of Latvia in 1991 each regional archive continues to accept the files transferred from the regional authorities to the centralized archive depository, and to supervise records creation, maintenance and disposal practices of operating agencies within their jurisdiction of the corresponding administrative region. In 1993 special depositories were arranged for preservation of the personnel records of the privatized, abolished and bankrupt state enterprises, ensuring preservation of the files and access to them, because of the importance of these files ensuring the social guarantees.

Finding Aids

• Register of fonds, automated information system.
• Biographies of the creators and custodial histories.
• Inventories and lists.
• Thematic catalogue.