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Using NARA Catalogues and Bulk Downloads for UAP Records

This page details how NARA's catalogue and bulk-download systems provide searchable access to UAP images, videos, and documents with metadata.

On this page

  • Catalogue entries and metadata fields
  • Bulk download process and zip file structure
  • Limitations and public accessibility notes
Preview for Using NARA Catalogues and Bulk Downloads for UAP Records

Introduction

Researchers seeking systematic access to UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) records in U.S. federal custody rely not just on individual document viewing but on structured cataloguing and bulk access mechanisms. The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) now supports both detailed catalogue entries with rich metadata and downloadable “bulk” packages of digitised and born‑digital UAP materials. These tools aim to let researchers verify records, build searchable datasets, and work more efficiently than by manually visiting or individually downloading entries.[National Archives]nationalarchives.gov.ukSearching for records using DiscoveryThere are two ways to look for a record using Discovery, searching or browsing. This section contain…

Catalogue & Downloads illustration 1

Catalogue entries and metadata fields

At the core of NARA’s public access system is the National Archives Catalog, a searchable online portal describing archival records across all media types. It organizes materials hierarchically by record group, series, file unit and item, with each level assigned a National Archives Identifier (NAID). Users can search by keyword, date range, creator, NAID or topic to bring up catalogue pages that list descriptive metadata for records and linked digital objects such as images, videos, or PDF scans. While metadata varies by record type, typical fields include title, creator agency, date range of coverage, scope and content notes, and links to associated digital objects. The catalog records themselves are machine‑readable and can be exported or harvested using NARA’s Catalog API in JSON format.[National Archives]nationalarchives.gov.ukSearching for records using DiscoveryThere are two ways to look for a record using Discovery, searching or browsing. This section contain…

For UAP records specifically, NARA’s online Record Group 615: Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection page lists multi‑agency contributions (for example, from the FAA, NRC, ODNI, and OSD) with links into the Catalog. Each linked series page provides detailed archival descriptions that position the UAP materials within NARA’s archival control system, making it possible to trace provenance and contextual metadata for each set of records.[National Archives]nationalarchives.gov.ukSearching for records using DiscoveryThere are two ways to look for a record using Discovery, searching or browsing. This section contain…

Metadata fields extracted via the catalog or API are particularly valuable for researchers because they make records checkable and indexable. In bulk JSON exports, researchers can programmatically inspect fields such as the NAID, title, description, date ranges, media types, and object links. This structured metadata underpins large‑scale analyses, such as mapping media types across agencies or correlating dates, without manually viewing each record online.[National Archives]nationalarchives.gov.ukSearching for records using DiscoveryThere are two ways to look for a record using Discovery, searching or browsing. This section contain…

Introducing the Next Generation National Archives Catalog

Channel: US National Archives · Views: 1.2K · Uploaded: March 2023 · Length: 4 minutes 2 seconds

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Bulk download process and file structure

Beyond browsing individual catalogue entries, NARA provides a bulk download system for UAP‑related records. This is designed to let researchers download entire thematic sets of records—including photographs, videos, textual case files, and audiovisual media—in a single step. On the National Archives bulk‑downloads page, each listing ties a catalogue series to two downloadable components: a metadata JSON export and a full zip archive of associated digital objects.[National Archives]nationalarchives.gov.ukSearching for records using DiscoveryThere are two ways to look for a record using Discovery, searching or browsing. This section contain…

What’s included in the zip bundles

‑ Metadata JSON: Each export file (named with a catalog-export‑<NAID>.json pattern) contains structured metadata for records in that series, enabling programmatic access to fields such as titles, dates, media types, and digital object links.

‑ Digital objects: The paired zip file contains the actual image, video and PDF files referenced in the catalog. For example, bulk packages include Project Blue Book photographic sets, FAA electronic records, ODNI image series and OSD documents. Files range from megabyte‑scale text scans to multi‑gigabyte audiovisual collections.[National Archives]nationalarchives.gov.ukSearching for records using DiscoveryThere are two ways to look for a record using Discovery, searching or browsing. This section contain…

Catalogue & Downloads illustration 2

Generating and updating bundles

According to NARA’s explanation, staff pull NAIDs from the UAP records list and run scripts to gather all applicable file units and items, retrieving object URLs and packaging them together. NARA has committed to updating these bulk downloads at least three times per year, reflecting additions to the Catalog as federal agencies transfer more records.[National Archives]nationalarchives.gov.ukSearching for records using DiscoveryThere are two ways to look for a record using Discovery, searching or browsing. This section contain…

Searching the Archives Catalog

Channel: UofL Archives & Special Collections · Views: 646 · Uploaded: September 2020 · Length: 7 minutes

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Structure and scale

Bulk download entries are organised by archival series or media type rather than by individual document. For example, still image holdings, textual records and audiovisual series each have their own bulk packages. Some zip files—especially for extensive textual or microfilm series like Project Blue Book case files—are extremely large, reflecting many gigabytes of material when uncompressed.[National Archives]nationalarchives.gov.ukSearching for records using DiscoveryThere are two ways to look for a record using Discovery, searching or browsing. This section contain…

Project Blue Book, 1950–1966 - The National Archives Catalog UAP Records (341-pbb-757)

Channel: New Paradigm Institute · Views: 380 · Uploaded: October 2024 · Length: 2 minutes 58 seconds

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Limitations and public accessibility notes

Although catalogue and bulk download systems greatly facilitate access, there are important boundaries to be aware of:

‑ Not everything is online or downloadable. Some records have descriptive catalogue entries but no digital object available due to restrictions such as copyright or classification. In such cases, the bulk download won’t include a zip file; instead, the catalogue entry will point researchers to onsite access options at NARA.[National Archives]nationalarchives.gov.ukSearching for records using DiscoveryThere are two ways to look for a record using Discovery, searching or browsing. This section contain…

‑ Redacted records. Agencies transferring redacted and unredacted versions of UAP records may have only the redacted version available online. Metadata may note the presence of restrictions, but the full content may not be public.[National Archives]nationalarchives.gov.ukSearching for records using DiscoveryThere are two ways to look for a record using Discovery, searching or browsing. This section contain…

‑ Ongoing transfers. While a legal framework has been established for transferring UAP records to NARA (mandated by the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act), transfers are rolling and incomplete. The catalogue and its bulk exports will continue to expand as agencies comply with metadata preparation and transfer requirements.[National Archives]nationalarchives.gov.ukSearching for records using DiscoveryThere are two ways to look for a record using Discovery, searching or browsing. This section contain…

Researchers should treat the catalogue and bulk packages as living resources: regularly updated, rich in structured metadata, and designed to reduce repetitive manual access, but still constrained by legal access status, ongoing archival work, and the fact that not all incoming agency records may yet be fully catalogued or released.[National Archives]nationalarchives.gov.ukSearching for records using DiscoveryThere are two ways to look for a record using Discovery, searching or browsing. This section contain…

Catalogue & Downloads illustration 3

Amazon book picks

Further Reading

Books and field guides related to Using NARA Catalogues and Bulk Downloads for UAP Records. Use these as the next step if you want deeper reading beyond the article.

BookCover for UFOs

UFOs

By Leslie Kean

Appeals to readers using catalogues to investigate official UAP records and government disclosure claims.

See on Amazon
BookCover for Managing Archives

Managing Archives

By Caroline M. Williams

Explains archival description, access, provenance, and records management concepts behind catalogue and bulk-download workflows.

See on Amazon
BookCover for Archives

Archives

By Laura Millar

Supports the page's focus on metadata, cataloguing, archival hierarchy, and public access.

See on Amazon
Browse more on Amazon: UFOs The UFO Experience Managing Archives

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Endnotes

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    National ArchivesBulk Downloads for Records Related to Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) | National ArchivesApril 24, 2025...

    Published: April 24, 2025

  2. Source: archives.gov
    Title: catalog bulk downloads
    Link: https://www.archives.gov/research/catalog/catalog-bulk-downloads
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    National ArchivesBulk Downloads from the Catalog20 Sept 2024 — National Archives staff generate bulk downloads of digitized or born digit...

  3. Source: archives.gov
    Title: National Archives Using the National Archives Catalog
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    National ArchivesUsing the National Archives CatalogAugust 15, 2016 — 21 May 2025 — The National Archives Catalog is the online portal to...

    Published: August 15, 2016

  4. Source: archives.gov
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    National ArchivesAPI for the National Archives Catalog1 May 2026 — The API allows researchers and developers to retrieve metadata in Java...

    Published: May 2026

  5. Source: archives.gov
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    National ArchivesRecord Group 615: Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection | National ArchivesFebruary 20, 2026...

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    National ArchivesUnidentified Anomalous Phenomena Records Collection: Frequently Asked Questions | National ArchivesApril 24, 2025...

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  7. Source: archives.gov
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    ecord Group or Collection | National ArchivesDecember 12, 2025 — RECORDS RELATED TO UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS (UFOS) AND UNIDENTIFIED A...

    Published: December 12, 2025

  8. Source: archives.gov
    Link: https://www.archives.gov/research/topics/uaps%3E
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    hivesApril 24, 2025 — RECORDS RELATED TO UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS (UFOS) AND UNIDENTIFIED ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA (UAPS) AT THE NATIONAL A...

    Published: April 24, 2025

  9. Source: archives.gov
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    icrofilm | National ArchivesApril 24, 2025 — RECORDS RELATED TO UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS (UFOS) AND UNIDENTIFIED ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA (...

    Published: April 24, 2025

  10. Source: archives.gov
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    hivesApril 24, 2025 — RECORDS RELATED TO UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS (UFOS) AND UNIDENTIFIED ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA (UAPS) AT THE NATIONAL A...

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  11. Source: archive.ph
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    September 20, 2024 — BULK DOWNLOADS FOR RECORDS RELATED TO UNIDENTIFIED ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA (UAPS) Digitized and born-digital records rel...

    Published: September 20, 2024

  12. Source: archives.gov
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    May 8, 2024 — GUIDANCE TO FEDERAL AGENCIES ON UNIDENTIFIED ANOMALOUS PHENOMENA RECORDS COLLECTION The 2024 National Defense Authorization...

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  13. Source: narations.blogs.archives.gov
    Title: digitized records in the national archives catalog how do they get there
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    Records in the National Archives Catalog: How Do...24 Sept 2019 — A great deal of work goes into preparing digitized records for inclusi...

  14. Source: narations.blogs.archives.gov
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    new read–write API for our catalog - NARAtions25 Apr 2016 — The API will allow developers to retrieve all of this metadata in specified f...

  15. Source: youtube.com
    Title: Searching the Archives Catalog
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    National Archives Catalog API bulk downloads research Secret Websites: Archive.org #shorts Mitch Tabe...

  16. Source: uapradar.com
    Title: National Archives publishes guide to UFO and UAP | UAP Radar
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    January 10, 2026 — Official New Government Release NATIONAL ARCHIVES PUBLISHES GUIDE TO UFO AND [UAP RECORD GROUPS](&#123;&#123; 'record-group-context/' | relative_url &#125;&#125;) NARA maintains a resear...

    Published: January 10, 2026

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  18. Source: nationalarchives.gov.uk
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    Step 4: Cataloguing and preparation of recordsCataloguing is the process of writing a description for the records that you are transferring...

  19. Source: cdn.nationalarchives.gov.uk
    Title: digital cataloguing practices march 2017
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    Cataloguing Practices31 Mar 2017 — This position paper outlines the evolution and current state of cataloguing practices for digital reco...

    Published: march 2017

  20. Source: registry.opendata.aws
    Title: aws National Archives Catalog
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    Archives Catalog - Registry of Open Data on AWSThe National Archives Catalog dataset contains all of the descriptions; authority records...

  21. Source: aws.amazon.com
    Title: prodview ctjgzey26dhlo
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    Archives Catalog - AWS Marketplace - Amazon.comThe National Archives Catalog dataset contains all of the descriptions; authority records...

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    9 Dec 2025 — Researchers can search the catalog by keyword, dates, person name, topic, physical location of records, National Archives Id...

  23. Source: providers.apis.io
    Title: national archives and records administration nara
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    metadata, bulk export of metadata and digi... Resources.. Website.Read more...

  24. Source: scribd.com
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    records, may or may not. be associated with objects.Read more...

Additional References

  1. Source: aliencatalog.com
    Link: https://www.aliencatalog.com/
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    Alien Catalog | AlienCatalog.com Official UFO and UAP RecordsLegally public records from official sources ALIEN CATALOG AlienCatalog.com...

  2. Source: youtube.com
    Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiZTlOzdnO4
    Source snippet

    Introducing the Next Generation National Archives CatalogThe National Archives Catalog is the federal government's online portal to recor...

  3. Source: ufotransparency.com
    Title: decade 2020s nara uap bulk downloads 488808322 nrc uap records
    Link: https://ufotransparency.com/files/decade-2020s-nara-uap-bulk-downloads-488808322-nrc-uap-records
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    NARA NRC UAP Records, Bulk Download, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) · 2024 · UFO TransparencySeptember 1, 2024 — NAR...

    Published: September 1, 2024

  4. Source: stackoverflow.com
    Link: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/48463895/how-to-scrape-all-files-in-a-catalog-series-from-the-national-archives-archives
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    can use to download the media, as well as other metadata that may be of...Read more...

  5. Source: youtube.com
    Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy1qDwPhaVM
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    Project Blue Book, 1950–1966 - The National Archives Catalog UAP Records (341-pbb-757)...

  6. Source: youtube.com
    Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKffIdedkUw
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    Introduction to Research at the National Archives...

  7. Source: usnationalarchives.github.io
    Link: https://usnationalarchives.github.io/Catalog-API/
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    Using the National Archives Catalog APIThe API's main functions include querying for metadata, exporting metadata in bulk, and posting ta...

  8. Source: [aaro]({{ ‘aaro/’ | relative_url }}). mil
    Title: AAR O UAP Records
    Link: https://www.aaro.mil/UAP-Records/
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    AARO UAP RecordsFebruary 13, 2026 — UAP RECORDS/INFORMATION PAPERS NEW CONTENT Content Type Date Added White Paper: 2025 UAP Workshop - N...

    Published: February 13, 2026

  9. Source: osintarchive.neocities.org
    Link: https://osintarchive.neocities.org/
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    * #### NARA Guidance to Federal Agencies on UAP Records Instructions f...

  10. Source: uapufo.org
    Title: UAP UFO
    Link: https://uapufo.org/
    Source snippet

    Public UAP declassified archive | war.gov/ufouapufo.org / war.gov/ufo public archive DECLASSIFIED UFO FILES, OFFICIAL UAP VIDEOS, AND WAR...

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