For Immediate Release
December 17, 1999

Washington D.C.
FBI National Press Office

The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced today that it has added several new subject matters to the Espionage, Historical Interest, Violent Crime, and Famous Persons categories of its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Electronic Reading Room. The subjects listed below have been available in paper format for several years and now can be accessed electronically:

ESPIONAGE

Anthony Blunt -- 37 pages

This British subject was connected with military intelligence during World War II and was of interest to the FBI primarily because of his association with Guy Burgess, another espionage subject.

John Parsons -- 130 pages

While Parsons was employed by the Hughes Aircraft Company in Culver City, CA, he removed classified documents concerning jet propulsion motors and rocket propellants without authorization. The FBI conducted an espionage investigation which developed no indication that he was acting on behalf of another country.

HISTORICAL INTEREST

Five Percenters -- 132 pages

This group of youth gangs operated in the Harlem area of New York City during the years 1965-1967.

Black Panther Party-Winston Salem, NC -- 2,895 pages

These records report the investigation of the Winston Salem, NC chapter of the Black Panther Party.

Freedom of Information-Privacy Acts Annual Statistical Reports -- 245 pages

These records contain a statistical accounting of the FBI's implementation of the Freedom of Information-Privacy Acts for the years 1978-1998.

Surreptitious Entries -- 2,898 pages

This file consists of administrative material and policy documents dating from the 1950's to 1970's concerning surreptitious entries conducted by the FBI.

Gay Activists Alliance -- 135 pages

This civil rights organization originated at Ohio State University in the 1970's and had several other chapters throughout the U.S. which were concerned about equal rights for gays and lesbians.

National Alliance -- 1,785 pages

This subsidiary group of the National Youth Alliance began from a nucleus of "Youth for Wallace" supporters for the purpose of combating the Students for a Democratic Society on college campuses. The FBI followed this anti-communist group's activities because of its violent tendencies but it was never the subject of an investigation.

Kent State University -- 1,146 pages

The FBI investigated the violent events at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, during May, 1970, when the U.S. Army Reserve Officers Training Corps building was destroyed by fire and four students were killed.

FAMOUS PERSONS

Henry Ford -- 376 pages

These records consist of seven files involving Henry Ford on various subjects, i.e., the victim of extortion, kidnaping plots, jury tampering, and a State Department investigation.

Josephine Baker -- 359 pages

The famous nightclub entertainer was thought to be involved in communist activities, however, she denied these allegations and no evidence was ever found that proved otherwise.

Richard Nathaniel Wright -- 169 pages

This famous writer was investigated by the FBI for being a member of the communist party between 1932-1942. He left the party in 1942 because of ideological disputes.

Arthur Rudolph -- 107 pages

The FBI investigated this German rocket scientist who immigrated to the United States following World War II. He was employed at various U.S. Government agencies, including NASA.

VIOLENT CRIME

Shooting Incident on 4/11/86 in Miami, Florida -- 621 pages

The FBI conducted an administrative inquiry into a shooting incident involving FBI Special Agents and two bank robbery suspects. Special Agents Benjamin P. Grogan and Jerry Dove were killed, along with suspects William Matix and Michael Lee Platt.

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These documents have been converted to an electronic format from paper copies housed in the FOIA Reading Room located at FBI Headquarters. Portions have been blacked out to protect personal privacy, confidential sources, national security, etc., in accordance with the exemption provisions of the FOIA. The index to the paper format documents in the FOIA Reading Room is now available at the FBI's website and, as additional documents are converted to an electronic format, they will be added to the Electronic Reading Room.