The purpose of this thesis is (1) to study the career of Thomas McAdory Owen as originator and Director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, the first state supported archival institution in the United States, (2) to examine the concepts of archival management developed by Owen, and (3) to show the influence of Owen on the establishment of other archival institutions in the United States. / Typescript. / "August, 1961." / "Submitted to the Graduate School of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science." / Advisor: Sara K. Srygley, Professor Directing Thesis. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-77).