Recently, long-time AGMIHTF visitor and commenter Stevie J requested a score card of sorts to help us track how some of my more recent public records requests are faring. In response, I’ve created the following list, which I plan to update as things happen, in real time (or shortly thereafter). When applicable, I’ve also linked to pertinent documents.
Listed below are the statuses of some of the more promising requests. I am pursuing new ones as they arise.
Thanks for the suggestion. Also, if anyone has a suggestion for a new records request, feel free to let me know in the comments.
Cool feature: the latest updates will be highlighted in yellow as you scroll down the page.
Open Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests
CIA
Four MKULTRA/ARTICHOKE documents
Seeking declassification of four MKULTRA/ARTICHOKE documents in which I believe the following individuals are named: St. Clair Adna Switzer, Louis Jolyon West, and Griffith Wynne Williams.
The documents of interest are as follows:
- 146201 – Cover memos (10/15/75 and 5/7/53) and report titled “Some Areas of Psychiatric Interest,” including PREFACE and TABLE OF CONTENTS, dated Sept. 5, 1952; Presumed Report Author: St. Clair Adna Switzer
- 149546 – Letter, dated Dec. 6, 1956; Presumed Recipient: Griffith Wynne Williams, Presumed Author: St. Clair Adna Switzer
- 148193 – Cover letter and proposal titled “STUDIES IN THE MILITARY APPLICATION OF HYPNOTISM: 1. The Hypnotic Messenger,” dated Feb. 6, 1957; Presumed Proposal Author: Louis Jolyon West, Presumed Associate: St. Clair Switzer
- 149547 – Letter, dated Feb. 8, 1957; Presumed Recipient: Griffith Wynne Williams, Presumed Author: St. Clair Adna Switzer
Submitted 8/19/2021; acknowledgment received 11/24/2021
FBI
Inspection Division inventory of files in Ident Missing Person File Room, whether in Room 1126 Identification Building or 9961 J. Edgar Hoover Building
I am seeking paperwork created by a representative of the Inspection Division when inspecting the contents of the “Ident Missing Person File Room” at any point in time that it was in existence before 1980. The Inspection Division was responsible for inspecting each division of FBI Headquarters on a yearly basis. The Ident Missing Person File Room had once been located in room 1126 of the Identification Building when the FBI still occupied that building. After the J. Edgar Hoover Building was completed in 1975, it was relocated to room 9961 JEH.
Submitted 6/24/2022; response received 7/6/2022
As I pretty much expected, the FBI’s response was that my request for an inventory of files in the Missing Person File Room was not searchable in their indices. Therefore, I’ve submitted a new request immediately below this one.
*****
All Audit and Inspection reports for the Identification Division and the Files and Communications Division from January 1, 1970 through December 31, 1975
I am seeking all AUDIT REPORTS and INSPECTION REPORTS that were produced during the time period of January 1, 1970 through December 31, 1975, for the Identification Division and Files and Communications Division and their respective branches.
According to the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General’s webpage https://oig.justice.gov/foia, these reports are considered public information and therefore, no FOIA request is required. However, because audit and inspection reports for the time period in question are not readily accessible online, I’m submitting a FOIA request for your assistance in providing them to me.
Submitted 7/24/2022; acknowledgment received 8/4/2022; response received 8/9/2022
Their response: “unable to identify records subject to the FOIPA that are responsive to your request.” I’ve submitted an appeal to the DOJ. (See below.)
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Personnel records for FBI employee in Room 9961 JEH Building in 1975
I am seeking the personnel records for an employee of the FBI’s Identification Division who had occupied room 9961 of the J. Edgar Hoover Building (JEH) in 1975. Room 9961 JEH was also the location of the Ident Missing Person File Room at that time. I’m attempting to determine who oversaw the Ident Missing Person File Room and what its purpose was.
Submitted 7/2/2022; acknowledgment received 7/13/2022; response received 7/26/2022
Their response was: “unable to identify records subject to the FOIPA that are responsive to your request” with this additional info: “Potentially responsive records were identified during the search. However, we were advised that they were not in their expected locations. An additional search for the missing records also met with unsuccessful results. Since we were unable to review the records, we were unable to determine if they were responsive to your request.” 🤦🏻♀️
*****
Additional Record Sheets that have been released through FOIA since 1970
I am seeking all Additional Record Sheets that have been released to members of the public through FOIA from January 1, 1970 through today’s date.
Under the manual system, Additional Record Sheets were maintained inside the fingerprint jackets housed in the Identification Division. When fingerprint cards were digitized under IAFIS and, later, NGI, Additional Record Sheets were digitized as well. They are maintained by the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. These records are NOT part of the Central Records System. A photograph of an Identification staffer examining an Additional Record Sheet along with someone’s fingerprints is attached.
Submitted 7/24/2022; response received 8/9/2022
Here’s their response: “Your request for the above referenced subject is not searchable in our indices.”
Department of Justice
According to a web page on the authority of U.S. Attorneys in criminal matters (see https://www.justice.gov/jm/jm-9-2000-authority-us-attorney-criminal-division-mattersprior-approvals#9-2.111#9-2.111), item #9-79.400 requires U.S. Attorneys to notify the Policy and Statutory Enforcement Unit, Office of Enforcement Operations, Criminal Division before declining to prosecute a case. Specifically, the Justice Manual states: “Notification is required before declining to prosecute failure to register with the Selective Service. 18 U.S.C. App. § 462 Consultation is required prior to dismissing a count involving, or entering into any sentence commitment or other case settlement in a case involving failure to register with the Selective Service. 50 U.S.C. App. § 462.”
I am seeking documents from the Policy and Statutory Enforcement Unit of the Criminal Division or a predecessor/equivalent unit of the Criminal Division for ALL DISMISSAL NOTIFICATIONS received for the period of January 1-December 31, 1955 from U.S. Attorneys throughout the United States. This would include notifications for individuals who failed to register with the Selective Service as well as notifications for individuals who had registered with the Selective Service but who did not show up to their draft board when ordered to do so.
Submitted: 2/25/2022; acknowledgment received 3/14/2022, stating “Because your request presents ‘unusual circumstances’ (See 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(B)(i)- (iii)), we are extending the time limit to respond to your request an additional ten days as provided by the statute.”
Update 6/2/2022: I wrote to them yesterday seeking a status update. They responded today and said that my request has been assigned to the complex track and “at this time, we estimate that this request will be completed within one year.”
Fyi, here’s how the term “unusual circumstances” is defined in 552(a)(6)(B)iii:
(iii)As used in this subparagraph, “unusual circumstances” means, but only to the extent reasonably necessary to the proper processing of the particular requests—
(I) the need to search for and collect the requested records from field facilities or other establishments that are separate from the office processing the request;
(II) the need to search for, collect, and appropriately examine a voluminous amount of separate and distinct records which are demanded in a single request; or
(III) the need for consultation, which shall be conducted with all practicable speed, with another agency having a substantial interest in the determination of the request or among two or more components of the agency having substantial subject-matter interest therein.
National Archives and Records Administration
I am seeking to view accession record #LTI-0065-2015-0002, which are the Classification 79 (Missing Persons), FBI Headquarters Case Files from 2/10/1947 thru 10/09/1980. (See link: https://www.governmentattic.org/38docs/NARAfbiFilesXfrd_Jan2010-Dec2015.pdf. I’m also attaching a screen shot from another web page that has additional identifying numbers.)
Submitted 6/6/2022; acknowledgment received 6/6/2022
The National Archives now has the FBI’s missing person files from 1947 through 1980, which is the year when the FBI stopped maintaining MP files, and passed the baton to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). There’s no way that they have all of them–the files only take up 1.077 cubic feet. But whatever they do have could tell us a lot about how Ron’s case was handled in comparison. The archivist let me know that that they have a queue and are short-staffed, but are working as fast as they can. And then…road trip to DC!
General Services Administration
Room assignments for the cleaning and maintenance of the 11th floor of the J. Edgar Hoover Building
Seeking all available paperwork for the period of August 15, 1975 through August 15, 1976 that documents staff responsibilities for the cleaning and maintenance of the 11th floor of the J. Edgar Hoover Building. Specifically, I’m requesting 1) room assignments for maintenance routes on the 11th floor and 2) room assignments for custodial routes on the 11th floor.
Submitted 2/3/2022; acknowledgment received 2/8/2022
Several recent FOIA outcomes
FBI
Master list of files in Room 1126 Identification Building from 1/1/1973 thru 12/31/1973
I sought the master list or lists of files that were maintained in Room 1126 of the Identification Building, at 2nd and D Streets, SW, during the period of January 1 through December 31, 1973. Room 1126 was also known as the Ident Missing Person File Room. It’s my understanding that the master list/s were maintained by the Filing Unit of the Files and Communications Division.
Submitted 5/31/2022; response received 6/7/2022
The FBI’s response was “your request for the above referenced subject is not searchable in our indices.”
*****
Master key to first floor of DOJ Building
Courtney Allen Evans, who was hired as head of the FBI’s Special Investigative Division in 1961, had received a master key to rooms on the first and seventh floors of the Special Investigative Division as part of his official duties.
I was seeking all records pertaining to the creation/manufacture of the master key for the first floor of the Department of Justice Building and the room numbers to which the master key provided access.
I’d been attempting to find out if there was a room 1126 in the DOJ Building as part of the Special Investigative Division of the FBI.
Submitted 2/25/2022; acknowledgment received 3/9/2022; response received by mail, dated 5/18/2022
They checked their Central Records System and: “were unable to identify records subject to the FOIPA that are responsive to your request.” Well, no worries. I now know that room 1126 was in the Identification Building. Here’s the write-up.
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Paperwork documenting the expungement of FBI fingerprint records ‘initiated in or prior to 2002’
According to an email dated April 15, 2021, from the FBI’s records and information specialist to an employee of the National Archives and Records Administration, an expungement of FBI fingerprint records had been “initiated in or prior to 2002 with the final action taken in June of 2002.” I sought the accompanying paperwork for all individuals who were included with the above initiated expungement EXCLUDING the individual who was discussed in this memo. Responsive paperwork could include documents described in Memo 14 dated June 8, 2000 from the FOIPA manual or other related documentation.
Submitted 5/12/2022; response received 5/19/2022
Their response was: “Based on the information you provided, we conducted a search of the places reasonably expected to have records. However, we were unable to identify records subject to the FOIPA that are responsive to your request.”
I’ll be pulling together additional info and submitting a new FOIA.
*****
All fingerprint expungement requests due to the Privacy Act for the time period of Jan 1, 1999-June 30, 2002
I’ve been trying to find any other fingerprint expungements that took place at around the same time as Ron’s. Per this memo, I sought all “correspondence between the Bureau and the requester” that was forwarded by the FBI’s FOIPA office to a paralegal specialist in the Field Coordination Team who handled all correction and amendment requests for the FBI. The documents should pertain to all person who requested the early destruction of their fingerprints during the time period of JANUARY 1, 1999 through JUNE 30, 2002.
Submitted: 1/1/2022; sent a status update request on 3/30/2022 and was told on 3/31/2022 that they’d mailed a response to me on 1/6/2022. I asked them to send it again and received their second letter in early April. (As for the first letter they allegedly mailed, I’m still waiting on that one.)
The FBI’s response was as follows: “Based on the information you provided, we conducted a search of the places reasonably expected to have records. However, we were unable to identify records responsive to your request.”
*****
Fletcher D. Thompson’s FBI personnel records
Fletcher D. Thompson was the assistant director of the FBI’s Identification Division when Ron Tammen’s missing person documents were “removed from Ident.” In this request, I sought all available personnel records on Fletcher Dew Thompson, whose career with the Federal Bureau of Investigation extended from 1941 to 1975. I was attempting to locate potentially useful background information regarding FBI operations and personnel, including someone (perhaps) with the initials MSL.
Submitted 11/28/2021; acknowledgment received 1/4/2022; response received 4/6/2022
Initially, the FBI’s negotiating team estimated that the time would be 64 months for his full file, however, after some back and forth with them, I reduced the scope to “all documents from 1973.” Here are those documents (48 pages plus cover):
Fletcher Thompson personnel records for 1973
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Additional Record Sheets (ARS’s) for assorted individuals
Additional Record Sheets (ARS’s) are the sheets that were maintained in the same folder as a person’s fingerprint card(s) within the FBI’s former Identification Division under the manual system. The ARS’s contained handwritten notations documenting the various administrative actions that were taken on those fingerprints. The ARS digital scans should feasibly still exist in CJIS’s computer database for the below individuals. As you can see, the FBI REALLY doesn’t want to turn over anyone’s ARS’s.
- Ronald Tammen Jr.
Submitted 7/8/2020; response 7/21/2020; appeal ruling 3/23/2021; Sought Ronald Tammen Jr.’s Additional Record Sheets. Was denied on the basis of my 2014 lawsuit settlement, and DOJ also ruled against my appeal. I submitted a request for mediation from the Office of Government Information Services, but the FBI denied them additional searches on the basis of my settlement agreement. There’s nothing more I can do with regards to Ron Tammen’s Additional Record Sheets, since I’m unable to file a lawsuit.
- Richard Colvin Cox
Submitted 4/14/2021; response received 4/20/21; Sought Richard Cox’s Additional Record Sheets. Was denied on the basis of my 2014 lawsuit settlement. I appealed to the DOJ (see new details below).
- Lee Harvey Oswald
Submitted 4/15/2021; FBI response 4/20/2021: “Records responsive to the FOIA have been transferred to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) pursuant to the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (The JFK Act), 44 U.S.C. § 2107, and are no longer in our possession. Transmission of these records is mandated by The JFK Act and public access to them is available through NARA.“
- Charles Milles Manson
Submitted 4/17/2021; FBI response 5/17/2021: “Unable to identify records responsive to this request.“
- James Earl Ray
Submitted 4-17-2021; FBI response 5/17/2021: “Unable to identify records responsive to this request.“
- Lyndal B. Ashby
Submitted 5/11/2021; received acknowledgment by mail 12/6/2021; received response 1/31/2022, which was a copy of Ashby’s military fingerprint record. See Tuesday Two-fer blog post for detailed write-up on the response.
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Missing person documents filed by the Cincinnati Field Office in 1973
Sought all documents pertaining to missing person cases—both newly opened and ongoing—submitted by the Cincinnati Field Office for the time period of January 1 to December 31, 1973. I was attempting to determine how common or uncommon it was for one of their agents to follow up on a missing person case.
Submitted 12/5/2021; FBI response 12/10/2021: “unable to identify records responsive to your request;” appealed 12/11/2021; appeal response 1/27/2022: “After carefully considering your appeal, I am affirming the FBI’s action on your request. The FBI informed you that it could locate no responsive records subject to the FOIA in its files. I have determined that the FBI’s action was correct and that it conducted an adequate, reasonable search for such records.”
I don’t view this ruling as a bad thing. They may not have investigated other missing persons cases. This ruling may actually validate our hypothesis that Ron’s case was out-of-the-ordinary.
*****
FBI files on Richard Floyd McCoy, Jr.
I submitted this request because it pertains to the D.B. Cooper story. Occasionally, I’d wondered if D.B. might have been Ron, though I figured it wasn’t likely. Recently, a reader sent me a link to a video by longtime D.B. Cooper researcher Dan Gryder, who presents a compelling case that D.B. Cooper was Richard Floyd McCoy, Jr. You can watch his video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UuRpW8wdVA
The FBI had investigated Mr. McCoy, however they supposedly had ruled him out for reasons that (imo) didn’t make sense. Although this is not my story, and I’m not trying to stick my nose where it’s not needed, I thought it would be interesting to submit a FOIA request to see what the FBI had to say among themselves about Mr. McCoy.
Submitted: 12/24/2021; acknowledgment received 1/6/2022; response received 3/10/2022
The FBI has sent me 1,374 pages of records that had already been released to someone else. There may be others, but I’m not going to pursue them because it’s not my topic. Here are the five groupings that were sent to me.
Appeals
Department of Justice
All Audit and Inspection reports for the Identification Division and the Files and Communications Division from January 1, 1970 through December 31, 1975
I submitted an appeal to my request in which I was seeking all audit and inspection reports that were produced during the time period of January 1, 1970 through December 31, 1975, for the Identification Division and Files and Communications Division and their respective branches. Their response was that they’d conducted a search of the Central Records System and were “unable to identify records subject to the FOIPA that are responsive to your request.”
Here’s my appeal:
This response is unacceptable. Does the FBI’s FOIPA office honestly not know where to find its own historical audit and inspection reports? If a search of the Central Records System doesn’t yield these basic public records, then how are they accessed by FBI staff?
I realize that the CRS is the customary database for conducting FOIA searches, but this is a request for internal FBI reports that should already be accessible to the public. I am asking that the FBI search the indices in which these public records are most likely to be retrieved and retrieve them.
I respect the FBI and DOJ and the important work you do. But when an FBI FOIPA representative sends a response like this, they’re conveying one message: they honestly don’t care–certainly, not about me, a taxpaying citizen, but also not about what the DOJ’s Office of the Inspector General has communicated to the public about FOIA. Running a futile CRS search and closing the case immediately may improve the FBI’s FOIA response counts, but it isn’t a viable response. They’re not even trying.
I’d be extremely grateful if you would remand my appeal so that I may be able to obtain the reports I’m seeking.
Submitted 9/3/2022; acknowledgment received 9/5/2022; response received 10/7/2022
Well I’ll be darned…they remanded my appeal. I won’t get my hopes up, but it’s always fun to have your appeal remanded.
Additional Record Sheets for Richard Cox
Sought Additional Record Sheets for Richard Cox. My FOIA request for these sheets had been refused based on a false claim that the FBI/DOJ had given me Richard Cox’s FOIA documents as part of my lawsuit settlement. I appealed, providing evidence that they were conflating two separate FOIA requests and the Richard Cox documents had never been part of my lawsuit. Here’s my post on the whole sad saga. And here’s a link to the closing paragraph of my appeal.
On 3/30/22, the DOJ’s Office of Information Policy remanded my appeal, sending it back to the FBI for further processing. On 4/1/2022, the FBI responded to the remandment as follows: “Records regarding your subject were previously reviewed and released to you pursuant to the FOIPA. An additional search was conducted, and no additional records were located. Therefore, your request is being administratively closed.”
They’d barely given me time to celebrate. I appealed the FBI’s response on the basis that the FBI had not looked in the proper location for the records I’m seeking. The responsive documents would be housed in the former Identification Division, now Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS), under Richard Cox’s FBI#, which is #357 872 A. Based on the documents I’ve received, the FBI had only searched in their Central Records System for Cox’s documents.
Submitted 4/21/2021; response received 3/30/2022; FBI responded 4/1/2022; submitted follow-up appeal 5/11/2022; acknowledgment received 5/12/2022; response received 6/16/2022
On June 16, 2022, I heard back from the DOJ, and they sided with the FBI this round. Unfortunately, there’s nowhere to go but a lawsuit, and I can’t afford to sue them for this. But I think it’s clear that the FBI has no interest in releasing anyone’s Additional Record Sheets (ARS’s), let alone those for someone whose disappearance they likely already know the answer to. The only person whose ARS’s I’d supposedly received were those of Lyndal Ashby, and the FBI had only sent me his fingerprints, not his ARS’s. As of this date, I don’t believe the FBI has ever released someone’s Additional Record Sheets to the public.
CIA
July 15, 1952 memo of list of [REDACTED] study group panelists
Seeking declassification of names on the list of ARTICHOKE study group panelists to see if some of the individuals we’ve been discussing (e.g., St. Clair Switzer, Louis Jolyon West, etc.) may be there.
Submitted 8/30/2016; received response 5/12/2019 in which they said they looked everywhere but couldn’t find a “full-text version” of the document; appealed 5/13/2019; received update 6/11/2021 in which they’ve estimated a ruling for my appeal on December 8, 2022.
Open Mandatory Declassification Review requests
CIA
Declassification of names on memo dated January 14, 1953
I am attempting to have the names in the third paragraph of this memo declassified. It’s my belief that the first person is Louis Jolyon West and the second person is St. Clair Switzer.
Submitted MDR to CIA 6/3/2017; CIA acknowledged 6/3/2017 but they did not respond within one-year timeframe; submitted appeal to Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP) 7/12/2018; current status: “Materials received from agency.”
*****
Note that another entity has submitted an MDR seeking declassification of names on the memo dated March 25, 1952.
//As of this date, I don’t believe the FBI has ever released someone’s Additional Record Sheets to the public.//
Request a list of all ARS the FBI has released in the last 50 years.
I’m pretty sure they won’t have a list of Additional Record Sheets that have been released, and they aren’t required to create documents. I may have better luck if I ask them for all FOIA requests seeking Additional Record Sheets over a certain time period. OR better yet, I can ask them to send me all Additional Record Sheets that have been released, since once they’re released, they’re considered public information. I think I’ll try that. 👍
Coincidentally, I’ve been updating this page today, so you may want to check out the four new updates as well. Thanks!
OK, I’ve submitted the request for all ARS’s that have been released to the public since 1970, so there are now 5 updates today.
//A mediation meeting was scheduled for 5/25/2022. The mediation meeting is now rescheduled for 6/8/2022.//
You want to tell us a little more about who requested and why it was rescheduled?
Haha–I was wondering if I should email you! 😉 It was last minute…covid. All is fine, and we are standing ready for the 8th. (In addition to Murder She Wrote episodes, I’ve been reading over some of the hearings from the 94th Congress on FBI/CIA activities. That Bella Abzug was one tough broad.) As a consolation prize, I’m currently working on an update regarding room 1126. This time I really do think I know which building it was in. I think I can have something up by Friday. Thanks for keeping up!
May 25th will be here before you know it. In preparation, I recommend you binge watch all 12 seasons of Murder, She Wrote. Jessica can be your inspiration.
Lol! ❤️😆 Thank you, SJ! So I have this one line I plan to use. It’s so golden…but I don’t want to say it here, becuz, you know, I’m pretty sure they’re listening…but it’s soooo amazing.
Just had a look at the Fletcher Thompson files. I’ve seen more cloak and dagger information in the Presidential Campaign of the Oxford Garden Club. Do they seriously want you to think that’s all they got?
I agree about the large number of thank you notes. Page 42, regarding a promotion, caught my eye. The bc included the “Tele. Room”. I don’t know if that’s telephone or telegraph or both, but what an odd designation. So copies of that document went to Deep Throat Mark Felt, #2 man Nicholas Callahan(Here’s a link to some interesting stuff about him:
[https://www.nytimes.com/1976/07/17/archives/new-jersey-pages-kelley-dismisses-top-fbi-assistant-reportedly.html]
and, “Tele. Room”. Strange. I don’t see anything of particular substance, but who knows when some tidbit of information leads somewhere else.
Haha–so true. Thankfully, they didn’t charge me anything for that sweet little batch of pleasantries.😆
Great catch regarding Nicholas Callahan. He was one of the principal players during the planning phases of the J. Edgar Hoover Building, so I guess he was fired not long after the building had opened. I’d love to know the whole story about whatever that kickback scheme was and how far it extended across the bureau.
Re: Tele. Room, I’m not sure, though in the last document, at the bottom, there are two boxes to check. One is for the Mail Room and the other is for the Teletype Unit. So…maybe “Tele. Room” is Teletype Room? I 100% agree with you–every little tidbit helps.
Not sure if you saw, but I’m planning to post an update on April 19th, which will be the 69th anniversary of Ron’s disappearance. Not sure how much I’ll be able to say about what I’ve been up to lately–probably not a lot–but I can’t let the anniversary go by without SOMETHING…right? 😊
You know who’d know for sure if a room 1126 existed? The mailman. It might be worth a shot at contacting the National Association of Letter Carriers in Washington, who represent carriers, typically called by the public, “mailmen”, and asking around. And maybe, just maybe, the American Postal Workers Union, who represent clerks. I’d have no expectation the carrier might enter the building, but they’d at least see the addresses. Likewise, a clerk assigned to that carrier unit might recognize it.
I have an idea how to use the mail system to check on this if the room number might still be current, but I need to talk to some of my people before trying it.
I love it. I mean…I don’t picture someone actually having an office in the file room, so I’m not sure if anyone ever received mail there, but I like your thinking and I’ll give it a shot. Here’s another thing I’ve been thinking of doing: take a gamble that there’s still a room 1127 and write a letter to whomever has that office now. Not sure who I’d address it to: “DOJ staff member” maybe? Or, crazily enough, what if I addressed it to the old study commission that used to be at that address in 1976. Sometimes office holders will get their predecessors’ mail. It’s been nearly 50 years, but 🤷🏻♀️?? I’d let them know who I am and then I would just ask them if there’s a room 1126 nearby. I don’t know how that would go over though. 😬
But yeah, if the USPS could help us solve this, I mean how cool would that be?
//Here’s another thing I’ve been thinking of doing: take a gamble that there’s still a room 1127 and write a letter to whomever has that office now. Not sure who I’d address it to: “DOJ staff member” maybe?//
Yep, my thoughts too.
//Or, crazily enough, what if I addressed it to the old study commission that used to be at that address in 1976. //
That would almost surely come back marked “No forwarding order on file”.
//Sometimes office holders will get their predecessors’ mail. It’s been nearly 50 years, but 🤷🏻♀️??//
I doubt it’d be processed in the FBI’s internal mail program.
// I’d let them know who I am and then I would just ask them if there’s a room 1126 nearby. I don’t know how that would go over though. 😬//
Probably not very well. I’d expect they have strict informational security policies. I’ll talk to someone tomorrow who might shed a little light on the first point.
Thanks — and understood. They’ve been pretty good to deal with through FOIA. I don’t want to break any rules. Especially with the DOJ.
I read this whole thing occasionally when you update. I don’t know how you stay with it, as it’s drudgery to read it, and I can’t imagine how much worse it is to pursue it. Anyway, the “Four MKULTRA/ARTICHOKE documents” matter more than everything else combined here. I think. What’s going on with them?
Thank you so much for reading it because I know it’s not fun. If you can think of other ways for me to make it easier on people—like the yellow lines—let me know.
Those 4 docs would be ginormous. The interesting thing about that one is that it took them months to even acknowledge it and you know who they blamed? The US Postal Service. They claimed they never received it the first time. Riiiiight. There are a couple others I’m especially enthusiastic about. Notice that the FBI has yet to acknowledge the one on privacy act expungement requests from 1/1. That’s a really solid request. Also the DOJ still hasn’t ruled on my appeal for Richard Cox’s additional record sheets. They’re taking longer than they estimated and I think it’s because they know I have a case there. And lastly, there’s Miami U and my request for the 3 Oral History Project recordings that weren’t posted online. Their response was that they don’t know which recordings they were and so I’ve filed a complaint with the Ohio Court of Claims. It’s made it past the first hurdle—it was accepted—so I believe it’s going to be referred to mediation.
One thing I can do is take down some of the old requests. Sometimes I like to keep them for a while longer to remind me of how things progressed—what worked and what didn’t, etc. Anyway, suggestions accepted. And thanks again for keeping up with it all.
I’ve cleaned up the page and removed some of the older, more obscure or redundant inquiries. I’m still keeping the giant list for my own use, but I’ll spare you all those details.
Seeking all segregable records documenting the cancellation and/or closing of individual Selective Service Act violation cases (FBI Classification 25) by the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio (Cleveland) Sumner Canary or one of his assistants during the time period from January 1, 1955 through December 31, 1955.
Submitted: 1/7/2022; response received 2/24/2022: “A search for records located in the United States Attorney’s Office(s) for the US Attorney’s Office – Ohio North has revealed no responsive records regarding the above subject.”
What if it was Canary’s superior? In any case, do you need to specify any particular person? Sure gives them some wiggle room to deny the records exist.
You’re absolutely right. I shouldn’t mention Tammen, since the DOJ oversees the US Attorneys too. Thanks!
I’ve changed my tact and have submitted my FOIA request to the Criminal Division of the DOJ. (See above.) US Attorneys are required to notify the DOJ before they dismiss a Selective Service case, so I’m seeking all such notifications from 1955 from around the country. Thank you again! 👍⚖️
For those playing along at home, a tl:dr for the 2/10/22 update:
“The FBI has either zero or a gazillion records for each and every request you make.”
“No, we won’t declassify those 50 year old records. They’re classified.”
I still think you’d have a shot at the maintenance/custodial records by contacting the SEIU.
So true! I know I’m not the first person to request Fletcher Thompson’s personnel file. Their 64-month estimate seems insane. Thanks for the reminder about SEIU. I’ll do that.
I just received an email from them about Thompson’s file. By reducing the scope to 5 years instead of the full 40, their estimated response time is now 30 months instead of 64. 😂😫 I feel like I’m playing a game with no rules and they’re holding all the cards. I guess I’ll just limit it to 1973. Maybe that’ll give me one less year to spend waiting around.
OK, we’re down to 4 months of waiting for Thompson’s records from 1973. We’re going with that for now.
I see that SEIU has a library/archives at Wayne State University. I’ll touch base with them. https://reuther.wayne.edu/taxonomy/term/14
Hi — I checked with the SEIU Archivist at Wayne State University, in Detroit. Although she was incredibly helpful, she wasn’t able to find what we were seeking. Here’s her response: “There are no floor maps/blueprints/room listings in the documents and publications we have here related to Local 82 [the Washington, D.C. local]– the material consists mostly of contract negotiation information and general correspondence.”
Oh well. As you know, we’re now concentrating on the DOJ Bldg, so that’s fine. Thanks again for the suggestion.
//Submitted 1/26/2022; FBI response received 2/2/2022: “Records regarding your subject were previously reviewed and released to you pursuant to the FOIPA in 1502087-0.//
Say WHAT?! Does this imply some monolithic entity that crosses federal and local levels?
I know…🤦🏻♀️ I *think* what they’re saying is that, when they sent me the docs with only subject heads, they’d already reviewed them at that time regarding whether they could be declassified or not. Apparently, their answer was ‘not.’
I just have a really hard time believing that a few FBI documents on protocol for handling expungements are filled with information that’s essential to national security. It’s also difficult for me to argue with them when they give me so little info to work with.
The last CD, the last link, on page 10, shows a listing of “Name Searching Unit 4989” and “Special File Room, 5991”. Maybe put in a request for maintenance/custodial records for those 2 room numbers. The records requested were supposed to be sent to “Nelson 6959 3288” as listed by “Supervisor, Room, (TL#) Ext.” Those 4 digit numbers have to be room numbers. The repetition of Room X9X9 is pretty interesting, although maybe a coincidence.
Great catch! You’re referring to the Cox CDs–that’s awesome. I hadn’t caught those — thank you!
I’ve submitted the 2 custodial/maintenance requests you’d suggested, under General Services Administration. Note that the Special File Room was in a different room number in 1975, so I tacked that on to the second request. Thanks again for the suggestions.
Update: Here’s the response I received on the Special File Room/Name Searching Unit request at 8:17 a.m.:
“These records are temporary records, not permanent, meaning we only need to keep the records for 7 years before disposal. Due to the age of these temporary records, we are not going to have these still on file and neither is NARA, as these are not the type of records that NARA stores permanently.”
So, bummer. Kudos to them for the lickety-split response, but bummer all the same.
Just a thought, probably a wild goose chase, but why not. MSL might be Miss or Mrs. or Mr. S______ L_____. If you got a bunch of the initialed documents you might see how common the M is for the first letter.
Oh, that’s interesting. The FBI was especially big into the Miss or Mrs. distinction back then. It was practically used as a first name. Also, it reminds me of those old-fashioned fancy RSVP cards, where they would print an “M_____,” and the invitee filled the rest in.
Yes, in the public sector, women were generally referred to as Miss or Mrs. ___________. Even in my time at the Post Office, beginning in 1984, some of the older women employees were referred to like that. Miss Miller and Miss Bernice come to mind. I think that chances are the M is simply a first name, but who knows?
Yep! I haven’t ruled anything out.👍
//Locks, clocks, and door signage//
How about:
“Room assignments on maintenance routes.”
And
“”Room assignments on custodial routes.”
Failing that, my best guess as to who services the building would be the Service Employees International Union. Maybe they have a non-disclosure rule, but they might share some information.
Nice! I think the General Services Administration oversaw custodial and maintenance services. I read in the FOIA docs online that the building manager (a man named Kent Womack) was responsible for maintenance requests, and he was employed by GSA. So I’ll send both FOIA requests to GSA. Thanks!
P.S. I’ve received Lyndal Ashby’s Additional Record Sheet today (sort of) as well as more evidence regarding court-ordered fingerprint expungements. I’m planning to post tomorrow a.m.
//Documents would pertain to all work done to repair or enhance building space overseen by the Identification Division//
Maybe it’s a word game and the “Identification Division” doesn’t oversee its maintenance. Or, “Identification Division” isn’t the official FBI name. Either one would be an escape hatch in line with some of their other FOIA responses. Per the first possibly, ask again but without specifying whose oversight you mean and just focus on identifying the building (s). Per the second, ask the former employees if there was a different official name.
Sounds good, thanks. 👍
How about this: in lieu of maintenance and repair costs, we could focus on the move, since all divisions moved into the J. Edgar Hoover Building by June 1977, and they may have elected to ignore work in the old buildings because they’d soon have a brand new facility. I can seek all moving costs/schedules, etc. for 1974 through 1977. And from all that…maybe…someone might have written down that they needed to empty out and relocate a Missing Person File Room by such-and-such date.
I’ve been going thru the documents on Government Attic about the design and construction of the J Edgar Hoover Bldg, particularly the ones having to do with the move. I’m attaching a paragraph that caught my eye from a 1974 doc. Perhaps there’s a list of all the keys made for individual rooms? Worth a shot. (Sorry the image is so tiny. I have no control over sizing.)
//Documents would pertain to all work done to repair or enhance building space overseen by the Identification Division, including, but not limited to, electrical and lighting work, plumbing work, painting, new carpet installation, cabinet installation, and so on.
Submitted 12/8/2021; acknowledgment received 1/4/2022; response received 1/13/2022, stating “unable to identify records responsive to your request.” //
The King’s English fails me…
I know. ‘Grrrrrr’ is all I can really come up with. So I was doing some background research to figure out how to improve it and, well…I have a hypothesis regarding the location of the Missing Person File Room. I’m writing an update now and hope to post later this evening.
// Ronald H. Tammen Sr. NCIC historic offline database entries
Submitted 6/23/2020; FBI response 7/10/2020: “Unable to identify records responsive to this request.“.//
//Ronald H. Tammen Jr. NCIC historic offline database entries
Submitted 6/23/2020; FBI response 7/15/2020: “Unable to identify records responsive to this request.“.//
That 5 day difference bothers me. It simply doesn’t fit. The other related requests came back the same day. Maybe request “All internal documents generated by the submitted request.”
Yeah, that struck me as strange too. I can try but they’ve been *really* unfriendly with regard to my Tammen-related requests, especially now, after I had OGIS approach them on my behalf. Their “We don’t have to search anywhere else based on the signed settlement, regardless of what else she finds” philosophy is tough to get past. Let me think on that a while before I jump back in. But, yeah, I agree.
//JW: Protocol for handling expungements due to the Privacy Act or a court order, Cincinnati Field Office//
//FBI: “Unable to identify records responsive to your request,”
“Records potentially responsive to your request were destroyed,” and
“The portion of your request concerning an FBI identification record – commonly referred to as a criminal history record or “rap sheet” – has been forwarded to the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division for processing.”//
Hmmm. Someone at the FBI is having trouble with cough cough accurate responses to your request.
I’ll give them this: they’ve become more creative in their responses lately, though the end result is the same: nothing. 😑
Finished reading that CD yet?
Lol! Good, I’m glad you’re keeping up. There are 4 of them (~500 pages/CD) but I haven’t received them yet. I’ll let you know as soon as I do and will post the best parts asap.
//I’m attempting to determine how common or uncommon it was for the U.S. Attorney to close a Selective Service case, as he had done that year for Ron Tammen.//
Nice. It strikes me that a strategy of publicizing their claims of no information might be fun.
😊👍
I suppose maintenance/repair records would count as documents. Perhaps estimates were requested to paint the Special File Rooms/Missing Person File Room, or new filing cabinets or a new carpet was intalled. Ask for any/all.
Ooooh……I like that! I still don’t know what building it was in…and omg, I’ve tried. I’ve asked for floorplans for all bldgs where the fbi was located…nothing. Everyone’s all 🤷🏻♀️🤷🤷♂️. But seeking all maintenance records…I’ll try that. Thanks!
Here’s the new request, submitted today: https://ronaldtammen.com/good-man-score-card#maintenance-records