9 Replies Latest reply on Aug 19, 2016 6:44 AM by Onaona Guay

A lost folder at NARA?

Bill Streifer Aug 2, 2016 2:32 PM

A couple of years ago, I requested a list of Japanese nuclear documents, all under one Record Group. Since I was unable to afford then all, and I obviously didn't know what they said until after I read them, I ordered the most promising one. And I was right; it was very important.

Now I have someone willing to travel to NARA to photograph the entire lot (about 1,500-2,000) pages, so I requested a quote from NARA and an exact citation so she'd know where to go to make copies. No response yet. And when I searched for them online -- by keyword, title, description, university name, country, etc. -- nothing came up. All I could get to was the right RG number, but nothing deeper than that. So she can't go, and I can't get my copies.

What I suspect happened is that in 2013 or 2014, they were moved elsewhere and no one bothered to note where they came from and where they went. I even filed a FOIA request to understand the chain of custody, and got no reply.

Is it possible they are gone for good? Nothing would make me happier since the report I ordered may be the only copy available in the world. On the other hand, I still want to know what those other 1,000+ pages say.

Any suggestions?

P.S.

If you contact me directly, I can tell you the RG # and provide a full description.... but not here.

Re: A lost folder at NARA?

Ann Forster Aug 4, 2016 5:54 AM (in response to Bill Streifer)

I requested a Civil War pension folder to be checked to see if I had identified the correct individual. I had and they gave me one of two details. A few months later, I ordered the file and there was nothing in it. Where there had previously been documents on the soldier. I suspect that when they initially pulled the file, it was not restocked correctly and now is lost, and that all that resides in it's place is a folder with the non essential data.
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- Re: A lost folder at NARA?
  
  Trevor Plante Aug 4, 2016 11:45 AM (in response to Ann Forster)
  
  Please e-mail us at archives1reference@nara.gov and provide the name of the Civil War veteran, unit, next-of-kin (if applicable), and the pension number, if you have the number readily available. We take these matters very seriously and will look in to this upon receipt of your e-mail.
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  - Re: A lost folder at NARA?
    
    Bill Streifer Aug 17, 2016 8:37 AM (in response to Trevor Plante)
    
    I received three e-mails from the same person at NARA (all within a matter of five minutes) in regard to the same lost documents. Here's what they said (very briefly):
    
    1. Here's the RG #, and the series number. Come and we'll help you make copies.
    
    2. If they remain classified, don't come.
    
    3. We can't find them; they could be anywhere.
    
    And this was after I sent proof that I had ordered one document (they can't find now) in 2012. Do documents just walk away on their own?
    
    So I contacted the Public Affairs office (the head) who said he would investigate by the end of next week. He's only talking to me because I'm a member of the press (freelance). I've been published in journals, newspapers, and in a book. And there's more on the way, including a book about this lost document.
    
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    - Re: A lost folder at NARA?
      
      Onaona Guay Aug 19, 2016 6:44 AM (in response to Bill Streifer)
      
      Mr. Streifer,
      
      The NARA staff member who responded regarding your request for “30 Japanese reports” provided the following information:
      
      We do not have a series or group of files titled “30 Japanese Reports”. A likely location for the types of reports you are inquiring about is the above series: RG 38 Records of the Chief of Naval Operations UD-08 Translations of Foreign Documents and Related Records (NAID 6789380) Those records are available and open to the public (less the exception of a few documents that have not yet been declassified).
      Should your research within those documents lead you to other documents--which it very well may--those additional documents may be classified.
      There is no central record entry for Washington Document Center documents. These documents are located across various entries in different record groups. We are happy to assist your representative with her research when she visits.
      
      As I mentioned previously, background information on these documents can be found here: http://www.archives.gov/iwg/japanese-war-crimes/introductory-essays.pdf.
      
      Considering the complex nature of your inquiry, please send any follow-up inquiries to archives2reference@nara.gov.
      
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Re: A lost folder at NARA?

Onaona Guay Aug 4, 2016 11:39 AM (in response to Bill Streifer)

Mr. Streifer,

We will be happy to look into this issue for you. I will contact you directly for the record information.
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- Re: A lost folder at NARA?
  
  Bill Streifer Aug 4, 2016 11:45 AM (in response to Onaona Guay)
  
  I'm curious. It it turns out the records were intentionally destroyed or removed from NARA, should the FBI be contacted? It may have simply been an administrative error, but suppose it wasn't? Scholars (I have their names) have already told me that the documents on my desk (a copy of those NARA documents) don't say what I know for a fact they do.
  
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Re: A lost folder at NARA?

Onaona Guay Aug 17, 2016 10:24 AM (in response to Bill Streifer)

Mr. Streifer,

The files you mention in your original post have been located. They were not moved; they remain in the same stack location that they were in 2012.

We apologize if you were under the impression these documents were unavailable. They are available for your representative to consult when she visits.
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- Re: A lost folder at NARA?
  
  Bill Streifer Aug 17, 2016 10:51 AM (in response to Onaona Guay)
  
  Mr. Guay,
  
  Thank you for your efforts.
  
  As we discussed on the phone, please provide a current and accurate citation for the Japanese nuclear document which I purchased from NARA in 2012. If I had to guess, I would say the other 30-odd documents on the same subject from the same Japanese university will most likely be found in that same box.
  
  Bill Streifer
  
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  - Re: A lost folder at NARA?
    
    Onaona Guay Aug 19, 2016 6:44 AM (in response to Bill Streifer)
    
    Mr. Streifer,
    
    The record citation for the file mentioned in your initial post is:
    
    RG 38 Records of the Chief of Naval Operations UD-08 Translations of Foreign Documents and Related Records (NAID 6789380), Box 19.
    
    I do not know if the box contains additional documents you may be interested in. As you know, these records have an interesting history. Background information on these documents can be found here: http://www.archives.gov/iwg/japanese-war-crimes/introductory-essays.pdf.
    
    Considering the complex nature of your inquiry, please send any follow-up inquiries to archives2reference@nara.gov.
    
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