Seeking photographs of Gimpel and Colepaugh trial

Hi Lorraine

Welcome to History Hub

Found this one photo

Alice Lane

Research Volunteer

https://www.courant.com/courant-250/moments-in-history/hc-250-colepaugh-nazi-spy-20140422-story.html

Uniformed military police escort Erich Gimpel, right foreground, and William C. Colepaugh, background, into court at Governors Island, N.Y. March 3,1945, for another trial session. Both were subsequently convicted as Nazi spies and sentenced to die by hanging. (Associated Press / U.S. Army)

Dear Ms. Almond,

Thank you for posting your inquiry on History Hub!

We searched the National Archives Catalog and located the series Headquarters Files from Classification 65 (Espionage) Released Under the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Disclosure Acts, 3/22/1935 - 1/20/1982 in the Records of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Record Group 65) that includes an item Laboratory Work Sheet in the file unit File 47826, Section EBF 397: German Police, 3/22/1935 - 1/20/1982, which mentions Gimpel and Colepaugh in FBI case file 65-25519.

A photograph may be in the FBI case file and that particular case file may be the custody of the National Archives (NARA), but NARA will need to perform a search, then review the records prior to release. FBI case files have significant access restrictions.  To initiate this review, you will need to submit a Freedom of Information Act request with the National Archives, providing the case file number 65-25519. This is the number that NARA requires to access FBI records. You may submit your FOIA request via email to specialaccess_foia@nara.gov.

Since they were tried by a Military Tribune, there may be a photograph taken by the Army Signal Corps. Photographs of various U.S. Army activities dating from 1940 to 2007 are in the custody of the National Archives at College Park - Still Picture (RDSS). Please contact RDSS via email at stillpix@nara.gov and their web site is https://www.archives.gov/dc-metro/college-park/photographs-dc.html.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pursuant to guidance received from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), NARA has adjusted its normal operations to balance the need of completing its mission-critical work while also adhering to the recommended social distancing for the safety of NARA staff. As a result of this re-prioritization of activities, you may experience a delay in receiving an initial acknowledgement as well as a substantive response to your reference request from Special Access & RDSS. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and patience.

We hope this is helpful. Best of luck with your research!

Hi Lorraine,

There might be a fee to use the following video.

Shots of two FBI personnel discussing something at a desk / Shots of... Stock Footage Video - Getty Images

Alice Lane

Research Volunteer