Research Guides: United States Government Documents: A Guide: Declassified Documents

Declassified Documents

Declassified documents are those that were formerly considered classified by the government because of their sensitive nature, such as those related to national security or presidential records, and are later made available to the public. Listed below are resources for locating declassified documents electronically.

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a law ensuring public access to U.S. government records by request. If you need more information about FOIA go to the following sources.

Open Government Groups, News, & Archives

National Security Archive (George Washington University)
An independent non-governmental research institute and library located at The George Washington University, the Archive collects and publishes declassified documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.
FAS Project on Government Secrecy
Developed by the Federation of American Scientist, the FAS Project on Government Secrecy works to challenge excessive government secrecy and to promote public oversight.

Collections of Declassified Government Documents

Digital National Security Archive
Collection of significant primary documents central to U.S. foreign and military policy since 1945. Declassified government documents obtained through use of the U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

U.S. Department of State Declassified/Released Document Collections
Department of State listing declassified documents pertaining to foreign policy and affairs that have been released to the public.
CIA Electronic Reading Room
Site to provide the public with an overview of access to CIA information, including electronic access to previously released documents.

DDRS - Declassified Documents Reference System
This collection is made up of U.S. government documents obtained from presidential libraries. These libraries receive declassified documents from various government agencies, including the White House, the CIA, the FBI, the State Department, and others.

Department of Energy OpenNet System
Service developedby the Dept. of Energy to provide easy, timely access to recently declassified documents, including information declassified in response to Freedom of Information Act requests. Database is updated regularly as more information becomes available.
Truman Declassified Documents
Collection includes documents on the Berlin Airlift, Cold War Decision to Drop the Atomic, Bomb Desegregation of the Armed Forces, Eleanor Roosevelt & Harry Truman, Election Campaign of 1948, Herbert Hoover & Harry Truman, Korean War, Japanese-Americans During WWII, Marshall Plan, NATO, Nuremberg and Tokyo War Crimes Trials, Truman Doctrine, Truman's Farewell Address, January 15, 1953, Recognition of the State of Israel, and the United Nations World War I Inter-War Years