A system and method for electronic archival of paper-based technical drawings includes a system having a processor, a form learning unit in signal communication with the processor for learning the form of a model drawing image, a form localization unit in signal communication with the processor for localizing the form of an input drawing image, an optical character recognition unit in signal communication with the processor for optically recognizing identification text of the input drawing image, and a result verification unit in signal communication with the processor for verifying the results of the recognized identification text of the input drawing image; and further includes a method for providing a model drawing image, learning the form of the provided model drawing image, receiving an input drawing image, localizing the form of the input drawing image, optically recognizing identification text of the input drawing image, verifying the results of the recognized identification text of the input drawing image, and storing the input drawing image and the corresponding verified identification text into a drawing database.