This study analyzed policies and guides related to the acquisition of private records at state/provincial archives in the U.S., Canada, and Australia. The purpose of this study is to examine the current status of collecting private records in the governmental archives. The analysis was made based on policies and guides from 14 state/provincial archives, including five in the US, seven in Canada, and two in Australia. From the analysis, the study examined collection areas, types of private records, and colleting methods, such as donation or deposit. It also studied the considerations on transferring copyright, placing access restrictions, and disposing of records. The study made the following suggestions for collecting private records at public archives in Korea: (1) define the collecting areas of private records relevant to the characteristics of a region; (2) determine the acquisition methods, including donation or deposit, and establish a procedure to make an agreement for the transfer of ownership, including copyright, access restriction, and disposal of records; (3) develop cooperation among the related institutions within a region.