The State Archive in Bialystok came into existance according to the Decree of the Minister of Education from November 10th 1950, however the Archive started work more than 2 years later, in April 1953. There was no place and qualified employees. First, the State Archive was located in the building of the Public Library.

The holdings of the State Archive in Bialystok increased slowly. At the beginning it was only 55 running meters. The Archive gradually was taking over documents from liquidated institutions and organizations.

In 1960, the State Archive moved to the renovated building at 4 Kosciuszki Street, where it is still situated. There are spacious store rooms, a library, a bookbinders’ workshop, a workroom, and a place for office workers and administration.

Nowadays, The State Archive in Bialystok works on the ground of the The Act on National Archival Records and Archives of July 14, 1983, Journal of Law, (Dziennik Ustaw) No 38, 1983:07:19 with later changes.