headshot of Price looking back over his shoulder

Vincent Price and The “Secret Letter” to the FBI

In honor of the spookiest time of year, this blog post spotlights the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) case files on the late American actor Vincent Leonard Price, Jr.  (100-HQ-410935, 100-LA-34677, and 100-WFO-38897).   Price is best known for being one of Hollywood’s original four Kings of Horror. From 1938 to 1993, he terrified audiences and … Continue reading Vincent Price and The “Secret Letter” to the FBI

Foreign Policy Fallout From CIA Funding Disclosures, 1967

In mid-February 1967, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Chicago Tribune published articles revealing that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had been supporting various international youth groups and student organizations with financial assistance.  As a Cold War measure, the U.S. Government, through the CIA, had been funding those private organizations to help … Continue reading Foreign Policy Fallout From CIA Funding Disclosures, 1967

cartoon w/Hoover in center surronded by vignettes of FBI agents duties

Happy Birthday FBI!

Today's post was compiled by the Special Access and FOIA Program staff at the National Archives at College Park, MD "Warning from the FBI" ca. 1941-1945 (NAID 516039; Local Identifier 44-PA-2313) In the Special Access and FOIA Program at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland, we conduct a review of records for information protected … Continue reading Happy Birthday FBI!

Leslie Feinberg: The FBI and Gender Pronouns

Today's post is by Dr. Amanda Weimer, Supervisory Archivist at the National Archives at College Park, MD. In 2022, the National Archives’ Special Access and FOIA Program completed a review of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigative case file 100-HQ-480756 on Leslie Dianne Feinberg (September 1, 1949 – November 15, 2014). Feinberg used the … Continue reading Leslie Feinberg: The FBI and Gender Pronouns

Insight into the Unabomber Case from the Files of its Lead Prosecutor

Today's post was written by Megan Dwyre, Supervisory Archivist, Special Access and FOIA Program at the National Archives in College Park, MD This blog post highlights records related to the Unabomber case from the series Electronic Records of Robert J. Cleary, 1999-2002, which was made available through the joint efforts of the Special Access and … Continue reading Insight into the Unabomber Case from the Files of its Lead Prosecutor

The Department of State Reacts to Public Revelations of Intelligence Activities, 1969

An earlier post discussed the Department of State reaction to the publication of The Invisible Government by David Wise and Thomas Ross.  That book was one of the first “exposés” of Central Intelligence Agency activities.  As the 60s wore on, critical books appeared in ever greater numbers, some penned by former CIA officers.  One of … Continue reading The Department of State Reacts to Public Revelations of Intelligence Activities, 1969

From the Bronx to the Bench: Sonia Sotomayor’s Trailblazing Journey to the Supreme Court

Today's post was written by Lynn Nashorn, textual processing and accessioning archivist at the National Archives at College Park. Looking South from the Bronx to Manhattan, May 1973 (NAID 548407) Born on June 25, 1954 in The Bronx in New York City, Sonia Sotomayor overcame personal and professional adversity to become the first woman of … Continue reading From the Bronx to the Bench: Sonia Sotomayor’s Trailblazing Journey to the Supreme Court

The Creation of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)

Today’s post is by Dr. Greg Bradsher, Senior Archivist at the National Archives at College Park, MD. On June 25, 1941, an order was drafted which would establish William J. Donovan's wished-for intelligence agency as the Office of Coordinator of Strategic Information (for background see: William J. Donovan and the Establishment of the Office of … Continue reading The Creation of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)

Reagan seated at the resolute desk looking into a camera that is out of shot

The Iran-Contra Affair: Faded in Time, but not Forgotten

Today’s post was written by Lynn Nashorn, textual processing and accessioning archivist at the National Archives at College Park. Called many names from the Iran-Contra Scandal to the McFarlane affair (after National Security Advisor under President Ronald Reagan Robert McFarlane) to simply Iran Contra, the Iran-Contra affair involved United States officials illegally funding Central American … Continue reading The Iran-Contra Affair: Faded in Time, but not Forgotten

Richard Nixon and Elvis Presley in the White House

“Don’t Be Cruel”: Elvis Presley’s Visit to FBI Headquarters

Today’s post is by Megan Dwyre, Special Access and FOIA Program Archivist at the National Archives at College Park, MD. Many of us are familiar with this photo of Elvis Presley’s famous meeting with President Richard Nixon, which took place on December 21, 1970. It is the most requested image in NARA’s holdings and the … Continue reading “Don’t Be Cruel”: Elvis Presley’s Visit to FBI Headquarters