The origin of the State Archives goes back to 1894. During the Nizam’s Government a department was set up to preserve old records of the Asaf Jahi dynasty and was known as Divani Mal and Mulki. The status of this department was raised in 1924 to that of a Directorate, and it was designated as the Central Record Office in 1950.

After the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956, the department was reorganised and called the State Archives. The present building on the Uppal Road, near Osmania University, was occupied in October 1965. Important Government records from 1880 to 1956 are preserved in the Archives, which render reference service.

Some of the old and very valuable records and farmans of Bahmani, Adil Shahi, Qutb Shahi and Mughal emperors in the original Persian are preserved here. There are nearly 2 lakh Mughal documents, dating from 1630 to 1724. Also the Asafia dynasty records from 1724 to 1853 are available for reference. During the last quarter of the 19th century, the official languages of Hyderabad State were Persian and Urdu. All the records, particularly those dealing with the political departments, are found in the Archives. The Archives have about 800 Urdu and Persian historical manuscripts. The Archives also have a good library and museum of old postal stamps, coins and seals of the old Hyderabad State and photographs which are worth seeing.