National Archives Follies

[Robert Braun]

Some board participants are aware that several years ago, Mike Thorson and I discovered to our great dissappointment that an attachment to an old letter-- showing a drawing of the location of Fort Gratiot-- was missing from its file in the Wisconsin Historical Society.

We may never know "who" did it, or "why."

But we may know HOW the purpetraitor did it-- ;D

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Guards Finger Berger in Sox Docs Heist

After three days of denials from his legal team, eyewitnesses to Sandy Berger's top secret document heist have confirmed that the former national security adviser did indeed stash national security secrets in his socks, as well as in his pants pockets.

"The stuffed socks and pockets is real," a senior law enforcement official told the New York Daily News. "The [theft] was reported by the guards."

Guards at the National Archives told the FBI that Berger was observed stuffing his socks with handwritten notes about files he reviewed that were going to the Sept. 11 panel, the News said....

Thursday, July 22, 2004 9:38 a.m. EDT
Copyright 2004 by Newsmax.com

[Greg Carter]

This stuff unfortunately goes on all the time. I remember collection items disappearing from a museum I volunteered at as a kid. Not much was spoken of it but I remember staffers grumbling here and there.

Given the lax security at some of the archives (NOT SAYING Illinois or anything) one could easily walk off with original documents of they wanted to in some cases.

GMC

[pshrake]

Sadly, Grag is right.

Many years ago I was researching the 22nd Wisconsin Volunteers at the Wisconsin Historical Society. In the course of my research I stumbled upon a 600 page circa 1906 manuscript from a veteran in Company F. This thing was incredibly detailed. Over the course of a year I returned to the state archives and methodically copied the manuscript. Then upon one visit I discovered the whole section on the March to the Sea and the Carolinas Campaing (about 4 chapters) had been stolen since my last vist. As far as I know that section of manuscript has never been returned.

Local Historical Societies are even more easy prey. Good natured, trusting volunteers, tiny staff, and lack of good security often result in theft. Hard core collectors sometimes consider local societies as prime picking grounds on the justification that "the they do not appreciate it or take care of it so it will be better in my hands" A former reenacting buddy of mine as much as admitted to taking from local Societies and used that very line to explain himself!

All Sandy Burger has proved is that even the best and biggest archive can be victem to a thief in broad daylight.

Pete

[Greg Carter]

The sad thing is, Pete, your friend may have been right! Not wanting to sound like I justify stealing or poor security ;D but your comments ring too true, unfortunately. The problem is the removal of only certain pieces and not all, like the march to the sea chapter. Imagine if some lincoln-phile stole his muster roll from the IL archives. Where would we be if that happened!?

GMC