How to Use the National Archives Catalog MCP in Claude Code

Q: How do I add the National Archives Catalog to Claude Code?

Use the claude mcp add command with the appropriate transport flags. Once added, the server will be available for all your terminal-based tasks.

Q: Can I list all my contributions to the National Archives Catalog in Claude Code?

Run getcontributionsbyuserid to get a full list of your activity. The output will be displayed in your terminal for easy review.

Use the National Archives Catalog MCP Server in Claude Code for headless terminal-based research and data processing.

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Connect National Archives Catalog MCP to Claude Code

Create your Vinkius account to connect National Archives Catalog to Claude Code and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup National Archives Catalog with Claude Code

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Claude

Perplexity

Headless record searching

Pipe the output of `search_records_by_tag` directly into your shell scripts or CI/CD pipelines. This allows for automated data gathering from the archive without a GUI. Claude Code executes these commands in your terminal. It is built for tasks that require speed and precision.

Automated transcription management

Use `update_transcription` to push changes from your local files to the archive. This is ideal for batch processing historical documents. Validation happens at the server level. You can verify the success of each update by checking the output in your terminal.

Retrieve metadata and stats

Get detailed stats on records using `get_record_stats`. This helps you decide which documents to prioritize for your research. Use `get_users` to verify contributor accounts. All results are returned as JSON, making it perfect for further processing in your terminal environment.

Setup guide

Set up National Archives Catalog MCP in Claude Code

Prerequisites

Claude Code CLI installed (npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Run the add command

Open your terminal and run the command shown on the right. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com. Use --scope user to make it available across all projects.
2

Verify the connection

Start a Claude Code session and type /mcp to list connected servers. You should see national-archives-catalog-mcp with a green status indicator.
3

Start using tools

Ask Claude Code something like "Check my latest National Archives Catalog transactions." It will automatically discover and invoke the available National Archives Catalog tools.

Terminal

claude mcp add --transport http national-archives-catalog-mcp https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp

Get your connection token →

Prerequisites

Claude Code CLI installed
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open the config file

Create or edit .mcp.json in your project root for project-level scope, or ~/.claude.json for user-level scope.
2

Add the National Archives Catalog MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Restart Claude Code

Start a new Claude Code session. Type /mcp to confirm the server is connected. The tools will be automatically available in your conversation.

.mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "national-archives-catalog-mcp": {
      "type": "url",
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by National Archives Catalog. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about National Archives Catalog MCP in Claude Code

Yes, it is designed for terminal use. You can connect it via the CLI and run commands against the archive directly from your shell.

Use the `claude mcp add` command with the appropriate transport flags. Once added, the server will be available for all your terminal-based tasks.

You can write a script that processes local documents and sends them to the archive using `create_transcription`. Claude Code will handle the execution.

Run `get_contributions_by_userid` to get a full list of your activity. The output will be displayed in your terminal for easy review.

Your connection is encrypted and routed through the Vinkius gateway. No local account credentials are stored in your terminal or configuration files.

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