Archival Recovery Program
The Archival Recovery Team of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) investigates documents and other items that have been lost or stolen from NARA, utilizing news, auction houses and websites, collector shows, and tips. Operating as part of NARA's Office of the Inspector General, they have had some notable successes in recovering items like presidential pardons from Ulysses S. Grant and Andrew Jackson or a Frederic Remington bronco statue given to George H.W. Bush.[1]
There is considerable challenge in monitoring the National Archives, which contain more than ten billion letters, maps, reports, videos, and audio recordings, hundreds of thousands of artifacts, and 6.7 billion electronic files. A comprehensive item-by-item inventory has never been performed because of this size, so even recognizing that items are missing is difficult.[2]
To date, the team has recovered over 7000 items.[2]
Notable recoveries
- The recovery of classified counterterrorism documents from Samuel Berger, a Clinton national security adviser. Berger pleaded guilty in 2005 to stuffing his coat pockets with the documents and walking out. He was fined $50,000.[2]
- In October 2011, the residence of Leslie Waffen, the department chief of audio and film, was raided and two trucks of material were recovered.[2]
- In March 2016, the patent application for the Wright brothers "Flying Machine" was recovered after being missing since approximately 1980.[3]
References
- ↑ Craig Smith, "Special agents hunt down America's national treasures," Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 3 July 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 Rein, Lisa (February 23, 2011). "National Archives hunts for missing treasures with recovery team". The Washington Post. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
- ↑ "Lost plans for Wright brothers' 'Flying Machine' found after 36 years". Washington Post. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
External links
 National Archives dispatches recovery team to hunt for missing treasures, Washington Post |