After the occupation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1920, the Bolsheviks established the State Archives Fund under the People's Commissariat for Education which started its activities in 1921.

In 1922, the management of the archives was passed to the Bureau of Central Executive Committee of Azerbaijan SSR.

In 1938, the management of the archives was passed under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and in 1960 it was subordinated to the Cabinet of Ministers.

The agency ensures the implementation of state policies in relation to updating and maintaining national archives through its direct activities in the collection and preservation of data and documents as well as through its regional chapters and the national archives of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan.

The activities of the department are financed through funds allocated from the state budget of Azerbaijan.

The archive department has two main bodies: the Scientific Council and the Central Expert Verification Commission.