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NARA MCP Server

Read-only Model Context Protocol server for the US National Archives Catalog API.

The server uses the public National Archives Catalog API and expects an API key in the NARA_API_KEY environment variable. Do not commit your key.

Data attribution: API responses come from the US National Archives Catalog. Follow the National Archives API Terms of Service and attribution guidance: https://www.archives.gov/research/catalog/help/api-terms-of-service

Tools

  • search_records: Search National Archives Catalog records.

  • get_record: Fetch a single record by National Archives Identifier.

  • get_child_records: Fetch records under a parent National Archives Identifier.

  • get_record_extracted_text: Fetch extracted text for a record.

  • get_record_comments: Fetch comments for a record.

  • get_record_tags: Fetch tags for a record.

  • catalog_request: Advanced read-only GET request for supported Catalog API paths.

Related MCP server: Earthdata MCP Server

Setup

npm install
npm run build

Set your API key:

export NARA_API_KEY="your-api-key"

Optional:

export NARA_API_BASE_URL="https://catalog.archives.gov/api/v2"

Run

npm start

Claude Desktop Example

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nara": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/absolute/path/to/nara-mcp-server/dist/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "NARA_API_KEY": "your-api-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Development

npm run check
npm run dev

Notes

This project intentionally exposes read-only operations. National Archives contribution endpoints require additional policy care and a key with write permissions, so they are not included.

Available Tools

7 tools
catalog_requestAdvanced Catalog API requestB

Run a read-only GET request against a National Archives Catalog API path.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
pathYesCatalog API path, such as /records/stats or /announcements/latest.
paramsNoQuery parameters.

TDQS

B3.4/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations are provided, so the description must fully disclose behavior. It states the tool is read-only, which is good, but lacks details on authentication, rate limits, error handling, or whether the path is relative to a base URL. This is insufficient for safe invocation.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

A single, well-constructed sentence that front-loads the purpose. No wasted words; every part is meaningful.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

No output schema is present, so the description should clarify the return format. It does not. It also omits essential context like base URL or authentication requirements. For a generic API tool, this is insufficient.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 100%, with both parameters having descriptions. The tool description adds examples for 'path' like '/records/stats', which is helpful but already present in the schema. No additional meaning beyond the schema's existing detail.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the tool runs a read-only GET request against a National Archives Catalog API path, with a specific verb and resource. It distinguishes from sibling tools that are more specific (e.g., get_record, search_records) by focusing on arbitrary API paths.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description implies this tool is for general API paths not covered by specific siblings, but it lacks explicit when-to-use or when-not-to-use guidance. No alternatives are mentioned.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

get_child_recordsGet child recordsB

Fetch records whose parent is the supplied National Archives Identifier.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
parentNaIdYesParent National Archives Identifier.
limitNo
pageNo
sourceIncludesNoComma-separated source fields to include.

TDQS

B3.2/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations are provided, so the description carries full burden. It only states 'Fetch records' without revealing pagination behavior (limit/page parameters exist but unanswered), error handling, response format, or any side effects. The minimal description fails to provide expected behavioral context.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is remarkably concise at one sentence. It front-loads the key action and resource. While very efficient, it could be slightly expanded without harming conciseness.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

The tool has 4 parameters and no output schema. The description omits important context like pagination, field inclusion (sourceIncludes), result limits, and relationship to sibling tools. It is insufficiently complete for effective agent use.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters2/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 50% (parentNaId and sourceIncludes have descriptions; limit and page lack descriptions). The description adds no parameter-level detail beyond what the schema already provides. For low coverage, description should compensate but does not.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the action ('Fetch records') and the specific condition ('whose parent is the supplied National Archives Identifier'). It effectively differentiates from sibling tools like get_record (single record) and search_records (search across records).

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description implies usage when needing child records of a parent NaId, but lacks explicit guidance on when not to use or alternatives. No mention of prerequisites or fallback tools.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

get_recordGet a National Archives recordA

Fetch a record by National Archives Identifier using the Catalog search endpoint.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
naIdYesNational Archives Identifier.
sourceIncludesNoComma-separated source fields to include.

TDQS

A3.6/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full burden. It only states the basic function and endpoint, without disclosing behavioral traits such as read-only nature, rate limits, error handling, or output format.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single sentence with no extra words, efficiently conveying the tool's purpose.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the tool has only 2 parameters, no output schema, and no nested objects, the description is mostly complete for a simple fetch operation. However, it could improve by noting that it is a read-only operation or what the return value contains.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 100%, so the description adds no extra meaning beyond what the schema already provides. The description's mention of 'National Archives Identifier' repeats the schema's parameter description.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the verb 'Fetch' and the resource 'a record by National Archives Identifier', distinguishing it from siblings like 'search_records' which searches instead of fetching by ID.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description implies usage when you have a National Archives Identifier, but it does not explicitly say when to use this tool versus alternatives like 'search_records' or 'get_child_records', nor does it provide exclusions.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

get_record_commentsGet record commentsC

Fetch public comments for a National Archives Identifier.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
naIdYesNational Archives Identifier.
limitNo
pageNo

TDQS

C2.8/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Barely describes behavior as fetching 'public comments', implying read-only. No annotations exist, so description must cover safety, auth, or limitations, which it does not (e.g., what if naId invalid?).

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness3/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Single sentence is concise but lacks structure (no paragraphs, no front-loading of key info). Efficient but under-informative.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness1/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Tool has no output schema, no annotations, and 3 parameters. Description does not mention return format, pagination, error handling, or comment content. Completely under-specified.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters2/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is only 33% (naId described). Description adds no parameter details beyond schema, failing to explain limit or page semantics, which is inadequate given low schema coverage.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

Clearly states the action ('Fetch public comments') and the resource ('National Archives Identifier'), distinguishing it from sibling tools like get_record_tags.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

No guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives such as search_records or get_record_tags. Missing context for appropriate use.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

get_record_extracted_textGet record extracted textA

Fetch extracted OCR/text for a National Archives Identifier, where available.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
naIdYesNational Archives Identifier.

TDQS

A3.5/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations are provided, so the description carries full burden. It only states 'where available' without explaining what happens when text is unavailable (e.g., empty response, error). No disclosure of rate limits, return structure, or potential side effects.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

One sentence, 12 words, front-loaded with the key action and resource. No unnecessary words.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness3/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a simple fetch tool with one parameter and no output schema, the description is adequate but lacks details on return format or error handling. Might be sufficient for a straightforward task but could be more helpful.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema has 100% coverage, so baseline is 3. The description adds no additional meaning beyond the schema's minimal description of naId. Agent must infer parameter usage from context.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The title and description clearly state the tool fetches extracted OCR/text for a specific identifier (naId). It distinguishes itself from sibling tools like get_record (returns metadata) and search_records (searching).

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description mentions 'where available', implying conditional availability, but does not provide explicit guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives (e.g., get_record). It lacks when-not-to-use or alternative suggestions.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

get_record_tagsGet record tagsC

Fetch public tags for a National Archives Identifier.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
naIdYesNational Archives Identifier.
limitNo
pageNo

TDQS

C2.9/5.0
Behavior3/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

The description implies a read operation ('Fetch') but does not detail pagination behavior, default ordering, or that only public tags are returned. With no annotations, it partially discloses behavior but misses key aspects.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness4/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Single sentence, directly stating purpose. No extraneous information. Could be slightly improved by clarifying pagination, but it is appropriately concise.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

With no output schema and 33% schema description coverage, the description omits important context such as response format, pagination details, and any error conditions. Incomplete for a tool with 3 parameters and no output schema.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters2/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 33% (only naId described). The description does not explain the 'limit' or 'page' parameters, failing to compensate for low coverage. No additional meaning provided beyond the schema.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

Description clearly states the tool fetches public tags for a National Archives Identifier, specifying the verb 'Fetch' and the resource 'public tags'. It differentiates from siblings like 'get_record_comments' by focusing on tags, but does not explicitly contrast with them.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

No guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives such as 'get_record' or 'search_records'. The description lacks context on prerequisites or use cases.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

search_recordsSearch National Archives recordsC

Search the US National Archives Catalog records endpoint.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
queryNoFull-text query passed as q.
titleNoTitle search filter.
naIdNoNational Archives Identifier search filter.
levelNoDescription level, such as item, fileUnit, series, or recordGroup.
onlineNoLimit to records with online objects.
objectTypeNoObject type filter, such as photograph, map, or text.
startDateNoStart date filter accepted by the Catalog API.
endDateNoEnd date filter accepted by the Catalog API.
availableOnlineNoAlias for online when a client prefers clearer wording.
limitNoNumber of results to return.
pageNoResult page.
sourceIncludesNoComma-separated source fields to include.
abbreviatedNoRequest abbreviated records where supported.

TDQS

C2.7/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries full responsibility for behavioral disclosure. It only states the endpoint and lacks information on authentication, rate limits, pagination behavior, or response structure, leaving significant gaps.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness2/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single sentence, which is overly terse for a tool with 13 parameters and no annotations. While front-loaded, it omits critical details and does not earn its place by providing sufficient information.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

The description lacks completeness given the tool's complexity (13 parameters, no output schema, no annotations). It fails to cover use cases, prerequisites, or outcome expectations, making it hard for an agent to use correctly.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The input schema has 100% description coverage for all 13 parameters, so the schema itself documents parameters well. The description adds no new meaning beyond the schema, so baseline 3 is appropriate.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the tool searches the US National Archives Catalog records endpoint, identifying the specific resource and action. However, it does not differentiate from sibling tools like get_record for specific records or catalog_request for other endpoints.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

No guidance is provided on when to use this tool versus alternatives such as get_record or get_child_records. The agent is left to infer usage without context on filtering versus specific record retrieval.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Tool Schema Changelog

Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections. Dates show when Glama detected each change.

  1. 7 tool updatesv0.1.0
    • First observedcatalog_request
    • First observedget_child_records
    • First observedget_record
    • First observedget_record_comments
    • First observedget_record_extracted_text
    • First observedget_record_tags
    • First observedsearch_records

TDQS

A3.5/5.0

Scored across 7 tools

Disambiguation5/5

Each tool targets a distinct operation: raw API access, search, record retrieval by ID, children, comments, tags, and OCR text. No two tools have overlapping purposes, and descriptions are clear.

Naming Consistency4/5

Most tools follow a consistent 'get_' prefix with noun suffixes (e.g., get_record, get_record_comments). The exception is 'catalog_request' which reverses the pattern (noun_verb), but it remains readable.

Tool Count5/5

Seven tools is well-scoped for a read-only catalog API. Each tool serves a specific need without redundancy, and the count is appropriate for the domain.

Completeness5/5

The tool set covers essential operations: searching, retrieving records, navigating hierarchy (children), and accessing associated metadata (comments, tags, OCR). The raw API tool fills any gaps, ensuring completeness.

Maintenance

ActivitySlowing
ResponsivenessSyncing

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