Declassified Documents

The National Archives and Record Administration (NARA) routinely reviews 25-year old files in many record groups for declassification. Some of this material is microfilmed and some of the microfilm is offered for sale by commercial vendors (See below). Since the 1966 Freedom of Information act (FOIA), declassification of more recent documemts can be requested by individuals. Also, many government agencies have FOIA Electronic Reading Rooms on their websites.

The two most important collective sources for FOIA material are:

Digital National Security Archive (1945- ) contains 22 core collections of declassified documents, previously published on microfiche. Additional material is available in their Electronic Briefing Books and the CIA’s “family jewels” collection

U. S. Declassified Documents Reference System Online which contains declassified documents sent from various government agencies to the presidential libraries.

Some material on the Presidential Library websites is not in the Declassified Documents Reference System.

Major Electronic Reading Rooms include:

CIA Electronic Reading Room If you leave the search field blank and hit search, you can use the filters on the right to narrow your search. CREST (CIA Records Search Tool) material as well as FOIA is included. Also:
CIA's Analysis Of The Soviet Union, 1947-1991

State Department Electronic Reading Room contains over 50,000 documents. State Department material from 1973-76 is available on the National Archives’ Access to Archival Databases website.

Department of Defense FOIA Reading Room

OpenNet via Department of Energy

FBI Records: The Vault

IRS Electronic Reading RoomFOIA information

Other Electronic Reading Rooms are listed on the FOIA site. Scroll down to View the full list of agencies and choose your agency. Under Select an Office, choose the office of the Secretary or equivalent central office.

Other Sources

Government Attic

Official Intelligence Agency Homepages (Federation of American Scientists)

Pentagon Papers, officially titled "Report of the Office of the Secretary of Defense Vietnam Task Force"

Project on Government Secrecy (Federation of American Scientists)

Rumsfeld Papers website.

Commercial Microfilm

Most of the National Archives microfilm is distributed by the following companies. You can browse or search their microfilm lists, and then look up the microfilm in HOLLIS or WorldCat.
Primary Source Media, Scholarly Resources, University Publications of America (ProQuest)

Finding HOLLIS records for a group of microform collections (as opposed to a known item search for a single collection) presents difficulties. An inclusive search on “United States State Department” yields 6516 records. There are several possible limitations which narrow the results, but each has problems:

1. Limit to Library: Microforms (Lamont), but this misses collection at the Center for Research Libraries (CRL), easily obtainable via Interlibrary Loan.
2. Limit to Format: Microforms, but some microform records made before about 1980 were not tagged as microform.
3. Add the terms Sources or Archives or Correspondence to the search.
4. Gather terms (e.g., despatches, "Central files” “special files” “post records”) from your results to add to searches.

A combination of various searches with browsing in the above research guides and publishers’ lists is best.

Declassified Documents by Country

Nineteenth Century Collection Online Asia and the West: Diplomacy and Cultural Exchange includes

  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Amoy, China, 1844-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Antung, Manchuria, China, 1904-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Bangkok, Siam, 1856-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Batavia, Java, Netherlands East Indies, 1818-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Canton, China, 1790-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Chefoo, China, 1863-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Chinkiang, China, 1864-1902
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Chunking, China, 1896-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Foochow, China, 1849-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Hakodate, Japan, 1856-1878
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Hangchow, China, 1904-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Hankow, China, 1861-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Hong Kong, 1844-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Iloilo, Philippine Islands, 1876-1886
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Kanagawa, Japan, 1861-1897
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Macao, China, 1849-1869
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Manila, Philippine Islands, 1817-1899
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Mukden, Manchuria, China, 1904-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Nagasaki, Japan, 1860-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Nanking, China, 1902-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Newchwang, Manchuria, China, 1865-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Ningpo, China, 1853-1896
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Osaka and Hiogo (Kobe), Japan, 1868-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Padang, Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies, 1853-1898
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Saigon, Vietnam, 1889-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Seoul, Korea, 1886-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Shanghai, China, 1847-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Singapore, Straits Settlements, 1833-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Swatow, China, 1860-1881
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Tientsin, China, 1868-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Consuls in Yokohama, Japan, 1897-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Ministers to China, 1843-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Ministers to Japan, 1855-1906
  • Despatches from U.S. Ministers to Korea, 1883-1905
  • Despatches from U.S. Ministers to Siam, 1882-1906
  • Notes from the Chinese Legation in the United States to the Department of State, 1868-1906
  • Notes from the Japanese Legation in the United States to the Department of State, 1858-1906
  • Notes from the Korean Legation in the United States to the Department of State, 1883-1906
  • Notes from the Siamese Legation in the United States to the Department of State, 1876-1906
  • Selected Records of the U.S. Consulate in Bangkok, Siam, 1856-1912
  • Selected Records of the U.S. Legation in China, 1849-1931
  • Selected Records of the U.S. Legation in Japan, 1855-1912

Gale World Scholar Latin America & the Caribbean Archive includes:

  • Correspondence and Record Cards of the Military Intelligence Division Relating to General, Political, and Military Conditions in Central America, 1918–1941
  • Despatches From U.S. Consuls in Havana, Cuba, 1783–1906
  • Despatches From U.S. Ministers to Cuba, 1902–1906
  • Records of the Department of State Relating to Internal Affairs of Argentina, 1940–1944
  • Records of the Department of State Relating to Internal Affairs of Mexico, 1930–1939
  • Records of the Department of State Relating to Political Affairs, U.S. and Bolivia, 1945–1959
  • Records of the Department of State Relating to Political Relations Between the U.S. and Brazil, 1945–1959
  • Records of the Department of State Relating to Political Relations Between the U.S. and Central America, 1911–1929
  • Records of the Department of State Relating to Political Relations Between the U.S. and Central America, 1911–1929 and Between Central America and Other States, 1910–1929
  • Records of the Department of State Relating to Political Relations Between the U.S. and Cuba, 1910–1929
  • Records of the Department of State Relating to Political Relations Between the U.S. and Guatemala, 1945–1959
  • Records of the Department of State Relating to Political Relations Between the U.S. and Haiti, 1910–1929
  • Records of the Department of State Relating to Political Relations Between the U.S. and Haiti, 1945–1959
  • Records of the Department of State Relating to Political Relations Between the U.S. and Other American States (Monroe Doctrine), 1910–1949
  • Records of the Department of State Relating to Political Relations Between the U.S. and Panama, 1910–1929
  • Records of the Department of State Relating to Political Relations Between the U.S. and the Dominican Republic, 1945–1959
  • Records of the Department of State Relating to Political Relations Between the United States and Nicaragua, 1910–1929
  • Records of the Department of State Relating to the First Panama Congress, 1825–1827
  • Records of the Department of State Relating to the Internal Affairs of Central America, 1930–1949
  • Records of the Department of State Relating to the Internal Affairs of Guatemala, 1950–1963
  • Records of the Department of State Relating to the Internal Affairs of the Dominican Republic, 1960–1963

The Microfilm Collection, Lamont, level B, has numerous large collections that are easily overlooked. Among collections of microfilmed U.S. government documents, the following contain information on foreign countries.

The HOLLIS Records link goes to the whole set of records. To find records for one country search the title in "" (omitting the dates) and the country name:

"Confidential U.S. State Department central files" Argentina

Confidential U.S. diplomatic post records, 1925-1945 (coverage varies by country)
Online Guides (Search collection title) 
HOLLIS Records.

Confidential U.S. State Department central files, 1940-1969 (coverage varies by country)
HOLLIS Records
Online Guides (Search collection title)

CIA Research Reports, 1946-1976
HOLLIS Records
Online Guides (Search collection title) 

Despatches from United States ministers to [country name], 1790-1906 (coverage varies by country)
HOLLIS Search
For full list see NARA site. Select Microfilm icon, then search Ministers in search box.

Despatches from United States consuls in [city name],  1790-1906 (coverage varies by country)
HOLLIS Records
For full list see NARA site. Select Microfilm icon, then search Consuls in search box.
For items at CRL or not at Harvard or CRL, obtain via Interlibrary Loan

Records of the U.S. Department of State relating to the internal affairs of [Country name], 1910-1963 (coverage varies by country. mostly 1940s-1950s)
HOLLIS Records
Online guides

Records of the U.S. Department of State relating to political relations between the United States and [Country name], 1930-1959 (coverage varies by country)
HOLLIS Records
Online guide available only for Records of the U.S. Department of State relating to political relations between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean states, 1930-1944. Department of State decimal files 711.12-711.39, 69 microfilm reels
Microforms (Lamont) | Film A 524.8 (1930/44) Level B

Records of the United States Consulate
-- at Callao-Lima, 1825-1912. HOLLIS Record
-- in Bangkok, 1856-1912. HOLLIS Record
-- in Jerusalem, Palestine: confidential correspondence, 1920-35 (record group 84). HOLLIS Record

U.S. military intelligence reports 1918-1944 (coverage varies by country)
Online Guides (Search collection title) 
HOLLIS Records

O.S.S./State Department intelligence and research reports. 14 pts. on 124 microfilm reels
Location : Microforms (Lamont) Film A 215 [Level B]
Location : Microforms (Lamont) INDEX Film A 215 = Guide [Level B]
Online Guides  (Search collection title)
pt. 1. Japan and its occupied territories during World War II
pt. 2. Postwar Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, 1945-1949
pt. 3. China and India, 1941-1949
pt. 4. Germany and its occupied territories during World War II
pt. 5. Postwar Europe
pt. 6. The Soviet Union, 1941-1961
pt. 7. The Middle East, 1941-1961
pt. 8. Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia and the Far East generally, 1950-1961
pt. 9. China and India, 1950-1961
pt. 10. Europe. 1950-1961 supplement
pt. 11. The Soviet Union. 1950-1961 supplement
pt. 12. The Middle East. 1950-1961 supplement.
pt. 13. Africa, 1941-1961
pt. 14. Latin America, 1941-1961

Presidential Papers

Adams Papers Digital Edition (1755-1840) contains diaries, selected legal papers, and family correspondence and state papers. Includes all 30 print volumes of The Adams Papers.

Founder's Early Access presents documents before they are published in one of the Founding Era digital archives. These letters and papers are in various stages of the editorial process and may be revised at the Early Access site or at final publication in a Rotunda archive:
Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution
Adams Papers Digital Edition
Papers of Alexander Hamilton Digital Edition
Papers of Thomas Jefferson Digital Edition
Dolley Madison Digital Edition Papers of James Madison Digital Edition
Papers of George Washington Digital Edition

The Papers of Alexander Hamilton Digital Edition

Presidential papers. Digitized versions of the published papers of:

Presidential Recordings of Lyndon B. Johnson Digital Edition (1964-1968) contains all presidential recordings of Johnson, with audio file, transcription, and annotations.