US Government Archives for 1958 Nuclear Contingency Planning

SUMMARY

This dossier investigates the governmental archives and offices that hold original U.S. intelligence cables and diplomatic correspondence concerning nuclear contingency planning during the 1958 crisis. Information suggests that several key institutions, including the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the National Security Archive (NSA), the Library of Congress, and the CIA's Historical Review Office, are primary repositories for declassified government documents. These archives are known to contain various forms of official records, from presidential papers and State Department analyses to intelligence memoranda and military records. Identifying the precise collections within these large institutions is crucial for accessing specific documents related to 1958 nuclear contingency planning.

The National Archives is identified as a central repository for historical documents, including military records and potentially diplomatic correspondence. The National Security Archive at George Washington University and the Library of Congress also provide extensive access to declassified government documents, often with full-text search capabilities. The State Department's Office of the Historian may also hold relevant diplomatic records. While several sources confirm the existence of vast declassified archives, pinpointing the exact location of documents related to a specific historical event like the 1958 nuclear crisis requires more granular investigation within these institutions' collections.

CLAIMS

1. VERIFIEDCONF 1.00

   The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) holds U.S. government documents, photos, and records covering the nation's history.

   — attributed to: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

   • https://www.archives.gov/
2. VERIFIEDCONF 1.00

   NARA provides research access to military records from the Revolutionary War to the present.

   — attributed to: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

   • https://www.archives.gov/research
3. CORROBORATEDCONF 0.90

   U.S. diplomatic correspondence and memoranda, along with Joint Chiefs papers and National Security Council policy statements, are accessible through research institutions.

   — attributed to: American University Library Subject Guides

   • https://subjectguides.library.american.edu/c.php?g=175045&p=1155786
4. VERIFIEDCONF 1.00

   The Digital National Security Archive (DNSA) contains over 100,000 declassified records documenting U.S. policy decisions.

   — attributed to: National Security Archive (GWU)

   • https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/
5. VERIFIEDCONF 1.00

   The National Security Archive provides a virtual reading room for browsing and searching declassified primary-source materials.

   — attributed to: National Security Archive (GWU)

   • https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/virtual-reading-room
6. VERIFIEDCONF 1.00

   The Library of Congress provides full-text access to over 500,000 pages of previously classified government documents from agencies including the CIA, State Department, and Department of Defense.

   — attributed to: Library of Congress

   • https://guides.loc.gov/finding-government-documents/declassified-documents
7. VERIFIEDCONF 1.00

   The CIA's Historical Review Office collections were established, with the first 1,000-page history being transmitted to the National Archives in 1989.

   — attributed to: CIA.gov

   • https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/collection/historical-review-office-collections-site
8. VERIFIEDCONF 1.00

   The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) allows researchers to access US Government executive branch documents with statutory exceptions.

   — attributed to: U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian

   • https://history.state.gov/countries/archives/united-states

TIMELINE

• 1958U.S. intelligence cables and diplomatic correspondence related to nuclear contingency planning are generated during this crisis period.
• 1989CIA's first Chief Historian's 1,000-page history transmitted to the National Archives. [src]

ENTITIES

• ORG National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) — Primary repository for U.S. government documents
• ORG National Security Archive (GWU) — Repository for declassified U.S. government records
• ORG Library of Congress — Provider of access to declassified government documents
• ORG Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) — Source of intelligence documents
• ORG U.S. Department of State — Source of diplomatic correspondence and analyses
• ORG Department of Defense — Source of military records and policy
• ORG National Security Council — Source of policy statements
• EVENT 1958 Crisis — Historical context for nuclear contingency planning
• EVENT Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) — Legal framework for accessing government documents

OPEN QUESTIONS — PENDING LEADS

• What specific collection or record group within the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) contains intelligence cables from 1958?
• Which finding aids or search terms are most effective for locating 'nuclear contingency planning' documents from 1958 within the National Security Archive's online collections?
• Are there specific State Department Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) volumes covering 1958 events that would contain diplomatic correspondence related to nuclear contingency planning?
• Does the CIA's FOIA reading room or historical review collections contain any declassified documents from 1958 directly mentioning 'nuclear contingency planning'?
• What is the process for submitting a targeted FOIA request for 1958 nuclear contingency planning documents to the Department of Defense or Joint Chiefs of Staff?

EVIDENCE — CAPTURED SOURCES

1. [WEB] https://www.archives.gov/research [archived]

   Research Military Records Research military records at the National Archives from the Revolutionary War to the present.

2. [WEB] https://www.archives.gov/ [archived]

   Explore our nation's history through our documents, photos, and records.

3. [WEB] https://subjectguides.library.american.edu/c.php?g=175045&p=1155786 [archived]

   Diary entries FBI surveillance and intelligence correspondence and memoranda Full texts of letters, instructions, and cables sent and received by U.S. diplomatic personnel Joint Chiefs papers National Security Council policy statements Presidential conferences State Department po…

4. [WEB] https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/ [archived]

   The Digital National Security Archive (DNSA) is an invaluable online collection of more than 100,000 declassified records documenting historic U.S. policy decisions.

5. [WEB] https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/virtual-reading-room [archived]

   Browse and search through thousands of declassified primary-source materials collected by The National Security Archive.

6. [WEB] https://guides.loc.gov/finding-government-documents/declassified-documents [archived]

   Provides full-text access to over 500,000 pages of previously classified government documents. Covering major post-World War II era international events from the Cold War to the Vietnam War and beyond, this source enables users to locate a selection of US government documents fro…

7. [WEB] https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/collection/historical-review-office-collections-site [archived]

   The first release to the public by the CIA under its Historical Review Program was a 1,000-page history, The Central Intelligence Agency: An Instrument of Government, to 1950 by CIA's first Chief Historian, Arthur B. Darling. DCI Webster transmitted it to the National Archives an…

8. [WEB] https://history.state.gov/countries/archives/united-states [archived]

   The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) gives researchers the right to obtain access to all US Government executive branch documents with nine statutory exceptions.

9. [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/findareddit/comments/14relbv/subreddit_where_i_could_find_hard_to_find_and/ [archived]

   Subreddit where I could find hard to find and hidden away government documents on the internet. Found! I'm looking for where I can ask for websites where I can find all documents and bills published by the US government for example, and also just hard to find and hidden documents…

10. [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/NoMansSkyTheGame/comments/r0r95d/stuck_on_awakening_quest_at_the_step_where_it/ [archived]

    Stuck on awakening quest. At the step where it says to "investigate base computer archives" I can access my computer but only the menu which lets me upload/delete it etc.

11. [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/78ytdz/method_madness_and_the_jfk_files_how_the_hell_do/ [archived]

    As for the current JFK documents (or any government documents): let's say I'm a historian researching the JFK documents and something looks odd and I want to check out the original to investigate. How easy/difficult would it be to get access to the original files?

12. [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/Declassified/ [archived]

    How can I browse archives of declassified files on government sites? As the title states I'm looking to find out how to browse declassified files. I'm curious to cross reference "declassified" information I've found online, just to cross reference and make sure its legit, but I w…

13. [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/USACE/comments/18x5mvh/contacting_employer/

    My current employer received today two copies of an INV FORM 41 Investigative Request For Employment Data And Supervisor Information. I am undergoing a background check and suitability for USACE. Why would they (FIPC) actually contact my employer with this form? I am sure there w…

14. [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/history/comments/ey5dy2/does_the_us_have_a_public_website_with_an_archive/ [archived]

    Google News Archive Search A collection of archives newspapers from around the world, alphabetically organized by title. "You can either browse through the full collection of newspapers scanned or use Advanced News Search to specify the date range in which you'd like to search th…

15. [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/NoMansSkyTheGame/comments/he1hfi/stuck_on_investigate_base_computer_archives/ [archived]

    This particular mission has a habit of not kicking in straight away, such that if you select it and immediately access your base computer you will often just see the normal options like rename and upload. It is advisable to select it in your log, then wait for a minute before acc…

16. [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/history/comments/5bvjpy/where_can_i_find_historical_documents_so_i_can/ [archived]

    The older / 'rarer' / more popular any given historical documents are, the more likely you will have to travel to see them rather than have them come to you. If you have interests in a particular field, then specific archives might be available online like u/TankArchives mentions…

CROSS-REFERENCE

• → SHARES-EVENT US Munitions Transfers to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE: Discrepancies in Records and End-Use — Both reference Freedom Of Information Act Foia, Foia, National Archives And Records Administration Nara
• → SHARES-EVENT CIA Media Influence Programs: Declassification Review Status (1950-1980) — Both reference Freedom Of Information Act Foia, Foia, National Archives And Records Administration Nara
• → SHARES-EVENT FOIA Requests for Metadata of Destroyed CIA Project Records (1950s-1970s) — Both reference Freedom Of Information Act Foia, Foia, National Archives And Records Administration Nara