Foundation Oral History Program

The FBI Oral History Heritage Project is sponsored by the Former Agents of the FBI Foundation and Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, which holds the copyright to the material. Oral histories reflect the personal recollections and opinions of the interviewees, and as such are subjective. As a natural component to historical research, they may be used together with other primary and secondary sources to gain understanding and insight into history. The transcripts of these oral histories are made available as a public service. You may download an INFORMATION SHEET about the program here.

   

CLICK HERE to access our searchable database which is under development.
Be sure to check back since new files are frequently being added.
The program has catalogued over 300 testimonies of members who worked on historic FBI cases such as the following and more.

  • The infamous gangsters in the 1930's and 1940's
  • Intelligence on the Nazi and Fascist movements during World War II;
  • Pearl Harbor;
  • Fidel Castro and Cuba;
  • Bombings in the Civil Rights movement;
  • Assassinations of Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy in the 1960's;
  • The Black Panthers;
  • The Ku Klux Klan;
  • Watergate;
  • The Patty Hearst kidnapping;
  • Women in the FBI;
  • The Oklahoma City bombing;
  • The spy Robert Hanssen;
  • Organized crime and terrorism.

 

Events of Historical Importance to the FBI

The Foundation's History Program seeks to connect our generations through history in two different ways - by sponsoring historical events, such as the one held at the Benson House in Long Island, New York in June 2014, as well as through supporting the Oral History Program.

Benson House
Article by Ray Batvinis (1972-1997), Chair of the Historical Committee for the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, and author of the recently published book Hoover’s Secret War Against Axis Spies, FBI Counterespionage during WWII.

McDade Diaries

Prepared by Thomas L. Frields. Thomas M. McDade was an American lawyer, FBI agent, business executive, and author. McDade was known as the last living retired FBI agent and lawman from the Dillinger Squad.

History Program Keepsakes

The History Program is also responsible for producing the Foundation's Bookmark Series and the Annual Calendar in an effort to bring to life the FBI History to Society members and Foundation donors.