The state archivist shall collect court records, official documents, reports, newspapers, church records, private papers, and other historical materials and data pertaining to the colonial, territorial, and statehood periods from the earliest times to the present, to have said documents, records, and material properly repaired, filed, indexed, and preserved, whether physically or by micrographic or other appropriate process or both, and, when deemed desirable, edited and published to encourage historical investigation and research in the history of the state.  When original documents or records are to be maintained in the possession of a custodial agency, the division may provide for the making of a microphotographic security copy or other appropriate facsimile for deposit with the state archives.

Acts 1956, No. 337, §6; Acts 1985, No. 238, §1, eff. July 6, 1985.