How to Use the National Archives Catalog MCP in Windsurf

Q: Can I use Windsurf to contribute to the National Archives Catalog?

You can. Use the provided tools like createtag or createcomment to add your findings. These actions are performed through the server using your credentials.

Use the National Archives Catalog MCP Server in Windsurf to pull primary source records directly into your development workflow.

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Connect National Archives Catalog MCP to Windsurf

Create your Vinkius account to connect National Archives Catalog to Windsurf 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 Windsurf

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Claude

Perplexity

Search and retrieve historical records

Cascade can browse the National Archives Catalog to find specific documents or images. It uses `search_records` and `search_records_by_text` to pin down exact files based on your criteria. Once you find a record, use `get_record_children` to view related items. Cascade pulls this data into your workspace so you can analyze the records without leaving the IDE.

Manage crowdsourced contributions

Your agent can update the archive by submitting new data. Use `create_transcription` or `create_tag` to add context to any record you find. If you need to fix errors or clean up records, the server supports `update_transcription` and `delete_tag`. These changes help improve the quality of the catalog for every user.

Track user activity and history

Monitor who is contributing to specific records using `get_contributions_by_target_naid`. It gives you a clear audit trail of changes made to any file. Check your own impact with `get_contributions_by_userid`. It keeps a record of every comment or transcription you submit to the National Archives Catalog.

Setup guide

Set up National Archives Catalog MCP in Windsurf

Prerequisites

Windsurf IDE installed (macOS, Windows, or Linux)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open MCP configuration

Click the Cascade assistant icon in the sidebar, then click the hammer icon (🔨) at the top of the panel. Select "Configure" to open ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json.
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

Refresh MCPs

Go back to the hammer icon (🔨) in Cascade and click "Refresh". Windsurf will detect the new server. No full restart is needed — the connection is hot-reloaded.
4

Verify in Cascade

Start a new Cascade conversation and ask something like "Show my National Archives Catalog payment history." If connected, Cascade will call the National Archives Catalog tools directly. You will see a green dot next to the server name in the MCP panel.

mcp_config.json

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

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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 Windsurf

Open the Cascade chat and ask it to find a record by text or tag. Cascade will call the relevant search tool and display the results directly in your chat panel.

Yes. Cascade can chain multiple tool calls together to complete complex research tasks. It reads the output of one tool and uses that data to run the next one.

You can. Use the provided tools like `create_tag` or `create_comment` to add your findings. These actions are performed through the server using your credentials.

Vinkius handles the authentication for you. You just need to provide your endpoint token once in the configuration, and the server manages the secure connection.

The server only touches the public metadata and contributions you explicitly send to the archive. Your private code and local environment data never leave your machine.

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