As the NDC systematically reviews and releases the oldest withheld documents from legacy declassification projects, we periodically post entries about interesting new releases as part of our effort "to make access happen" (please see the July 5, 2018 NDC Blog post "Note Pour L'Admiral Stark" for more details). In this case, Archives Specialist Jennifer Halpern … Continue reading Hidden in Plain Sight
Classified Records: National Security, Declassification, and the Freedom of Information Act
Today's post is provided by NDC staff member David Fort. I had the privilege of speaking to a crowd of about 35 people February 6, 2019 at Gettysburg College. The talk involved a number of topics from how the declassification process works at the National Archives, from the records being accessioned, to them being reviewed … Continue reading Classified Records: National Security, Declassification, and the Freedom of Information Act
We are back!
The National Declassification Center is open once again. We look forward to researching and writing more posts about the records we find and declassify, as well as answering your questions about our posts.
NDC Blog Idled
Due to the lack of appropriated funds for NARA operations, the NDC Blog will not be active for the foreseeable future. Any comments on published articles made as of today will be reviewed and posted upon NARA's re-opening for operations with appropriated funds.
Operation Enewetak
The Atoll The classic coral atoll of Enewetak and its small population had seen much change during the 20th century as compared to the relatively quiet nine previous centuries since humans first came to the atoll's islands. The Germans were the first industrial culture to claim possession of the islands which became part of the … Continue reading Operation Enewetak
New Entries Released by the National Declassification Center
The NDC has released a listing of 115 entries that have completed declassification processing between June 1, 2018 and September 28, 2018, and are now available for researcher request. This release consists of records from both military and civilian agencies. Highlights include: Department of State, Policy Planning Council; Numerical Files, Department of State, General Records Relating … Continue reading New Entries Released by the National Declassification Center
The Laser Target Recognition System (LTRS): A Lesson in Bleeding Edge Technology
The War in Southeast Asia was many things to many people. To some in the Defense Department under Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, the war appeared to be a technological challenge that American know-how was meant to conquer. To find an enemy who made the most of the cloak of darkness for movement and … Continue reading The Laser Target Recognition System (LTRS): A Lesson in Bleeding Edge Technology
Navy Nuclear Weapons Safety–A Story in Posters
Military leaders by default are the safety managers of their units, although one or more individuals may be formally titled "Safety Officer" as recognition of a specific responsibility within the military organization. The Safety Officer is an unheralded position wherein one may get recognition (and not the best kind) only when something goes wrong. So … Continue reading Navy Nuclear Weapons Safety–A Story in Posters
New Entries Released by the National Declassification Center
The NDC has released a listing of 86 entries that have completed declassification processing between March 3, 2018 and May 31, 2018, and are now available for researcher request. This release consists of records from both military and civilian agencies. Highlights include: Department of State, Records Relating to Atomic Energy Matters and Outer Space Activities, Department … Continue reading New Entries Released by the National Declassification Center
“Note Pour L’Admiral Stark.”
A document recently surfaced in the course of yet another NDC special project called PAIR--a note that speaks to a little-noticed aspect of World War II that involved one of the war's higher-profiled participants, Général de brigade Charles de Gaulle. PAIR (Pre-ADRRES Indexing Review) This NDC special project has been in operation since around 2015 … Continue reading “Note Pour L’Admiral Stark.”