In the course of his research over the last ten years, Associate Professor Matthew Cecil has used the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act to collect the J. Edgar Hoover-era FBI files of hundreds of prominent journalists. In all, Cecil has collected nearly 90,000 pages of FBI information. The files have provided the raw material for several scholarly publications and Cecil has several more, along with a book project, in the works.

The folders consist of photocopied files provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation at the request of Dr. Cecil. The documents were reviewed under the Freedom on Information/Privacy Acts, Title 5, United Stated Code, Section 552/552a by the FBI. Deletions were made to protect information which was exempt from disclosure. A deleted page information sheet was inserted in the file to indicate where pages were withheld. These sheets will be found in the folders.

Most of the material in the folders is made up of correspondence and clippings from newspapers and tearsheets from magazines and other publications. Researchers will also find case reports, FBI teletype (a message sent and received via a teleprinter-character printer connected to a telegraph that operates like a typewriter), routing slips, memoranda, telegrams, surveillance reports, news releases, interviews, essays, investigations, and typescripts.

While the strength of this collection lies in journalism and the J. Edgar Hoover era of the FBI, the topics of the collection covers a wide variety of subjects, from Communism and McCarthyism to organized crime, kidnapping, death threats, and the Kennedy Assassination and smear campaigns.

Some photocopies provided by the FBI are difficult to read. When this occurred, a sheet was inserted in the file that states:

"The best copy obtainable is included in the reproduction of these documents. Pages included that are blurred, lights, or otherwise difficult to read are the result of the condition of the original document. No better copy can be reproduced."

Some of the material received were water damaged. While no mold is present, the papers are warped and wrinkled. They are dry but may become brittle over time. These folders have been marked as "water damaged." The Archives reserves the right to refuse photocopy requests if these materials become too fragile or may be damaged by the photocopying process.