Original BIA records dumped in trash at National Archives in DC

Thursday, February 24, 2011  

In September 2005, the National Archives and Records Administration launched an investigation to determine how original Bureau of Indian Affairs documents ended up in a trash can.

It doesn't appear any progress has been made in over four years, however. The Washington Post reports that NARA still doesn't know whether the records were dumped intentionally or whether it was an accident.

The records were discovered in a trash can at the National Archives headquarters in Washington, D.C. The BIA at the time said it wasn't responsible because the documents weren't in its custody.

As part of the Indian trust fund lawsuit, the BIA was under a court order to preserve all documents.

Get the Story:
National Archives hunts for missing treasures with recovery team (The Washington Post 2/24)

Back in the Day:
Editorial: BIA is busy ... dumping trust records (9/29)
Trust fund records dumped by federal records agency (9/22)