The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Annals \An"nals\, n. pl. [L. annalis (sc. liber), and more
   frequently in the pl. annales (sc. libri), chronicles, fr.
   annus year. Cf. Annual.]
   1. A relation of events in chronological order, each event
      being recorded under the year in which it happened.
      "Annals the revolution." --Macaulay. "The annals of our
      religion." --Rogers.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Historical records; chronicles; history.
      [1913 Webster]

            The short and simple annals of the poor. --Gray.
      [1913 Webster]

            It was one of the most critical periods in our
            annals.                               --Burke.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. sing. The record of a single event or item. "In deathless
      annal." --Young.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. A periodic publication, containing records of discoveries,
      transactions of societies, etc.; as "Annals of Science."
      [1913 Webster]

   Syn: History. See History.
        [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

annals
    n 1: reports of the work of a society or learned body etc
    2: a chronological account of events in successive years [syn:
       annals, chronological record]

Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:

74 Moby Thesaurus words for "annals":
   Clio, Muse of history, account, adventures, autobiography,
   biographical sketch, biography, case history, catalog, check sheet,
   chronicle, chronicles, chronology, clock card, confessions,
   correspondence, curriculum vitae, date slip, datebook, daybook,
   diary, documentation, experiences, fortunes, hagiography,
   hagiology, historiography, history, inventory, journal, legend,
   letters, life, life and letters, life story, list, log,
   martyrology, memoir, memoirs, memorabilia, memorial, memorials,
   necrology, obituary, photobiography, pipe roll, profile, record,
   recording, register, registry, relic, remains, resume, roll, rolls,
   roster, rota, scroll, story, table, theory of history, time book,
   time chart, time scale, time schedule, time sheet, time study,
   timecard, timetable, token, trace, vestige