Tamil Nadu Archives is the custodian of public records created by the Government. They embody past experiences of administration, throw light on the progress achieved in various fronts, present clarity on the resources available during certain period and reflect the status of people.

The earliest repository of Government records of the Madras Presidency was the Council Room in the Fort House at Chennai. In the year 1805 A.D, Lord William Bentinck, the then Governor of Madras, pooled records of all the different departments by separating most important records and placed them under the charge of a Record Keeper. Considering the importance of preserving Government records, in the year 1906 A.D, the Madras Council decided to build a special record room with fire proof and special fittings in a separate place. The Government land “Grassmere” in Egmore was identified for separate Record office. On the orders of His Excellency the Governor, the Consultant Architect G.S.T. Harris, a Superintending Engineer in the Public Works Department, prepared and submitted plans for construction of building at an estimated cost of Rs.3,49,249/-, which was accorded sanction in August 1907 A.D. In the year 1909 A.D, the Madras Record Office, the precursor of Tamil Nadu Archives started functioning. Since then all documents of administrative and social importance ranging from the East India Company regime to the present day administration of Tamil Nadu Government are being preserved in the Archives. In the year 1973 A.D, the Madras Record Office was renamed as “Tamil Nadu Archives and Historical Research”.