Hey any intelligence studies folk, I am struggling to find an FOIAed OSS/CIA document from David Bruce to Bill Donovan. The reference in the book I'm looking at reads: "DB to WJD, March 20, 1943, Bruce File, CIA FOIA." Try as I might I can't find the "Bruce File". Any tips? #intelligencestudies - ThreadSky

spyhistorian.bsky.social • 93 days ago

Hey any intelligence studies folk, I am struggling to find an FOIAed OSS/CIA document from David Bruce to Bill Donovan. The reference in the book I'm looking at reads:

"DB to WJD, March 20, 1943, Bruce File, CIA FOIA."

Try as I might I can't find the "Bruce File". Any tips? #intelligencestudies

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alexrose.com•93 days ago

The CIA site for this material is a real mess, as you’ve no doubt discovered. I wonder whether there’s a side door you can use: Maybe the letter can be found in the Donovan Papers instead? Which book is it, by the way?

spyhistorian.bsky.social•93 days ago

Yep, the Foia material is shockingly arranged.

The book is: The Last American Gentleman.

It's a biography of David KE Bruce.

alexrose.com•93 days ago

Yup, I know the book. Lankford was at the Virginia Hist. Soc., which has some Bruce papers. Cld be worth seeing if he deposited it there after using for notes. Also Donovan Papers cld have a copy. Poss. in B's NARA personnel file (tho' unlikely) or in OSS Correspondence, '43 file at CIA.

spyhistorian.bsky.social•93 days ago

I've seen the OSS 43 corr. files, but so many are v low quality scans/photocopies

alexrose.com•93 days ago

Oh, I know . . . Bill Casey *really* didn't want to release those OSS files.

spyhistorian.bsky.social•93 days ago

Most of the NARA stuff isn't scanned/online. Which is a pity. I think most is available via the CIA site, but it's a nightmare

alexrose.com•93 days ago

I hear you. My rough estimate is that 97% of the WW2 material in NARA will never be scanned (hence the importance of visiting archives). I know, though, that you can submit an order for a scan of David's file; it'll just take a while. Or you can pay a researcher to do it in a couple of days.

spyhistorian.bsky.social•93 days ago

Sorry... Aristocrat, not Gentleman.

tombucsfan.bsky.social•93 days ago

I know more of the documents from the Nixon years when they were archived in Alexandria Virginia in 1980s.

tombucsfan.bsky.social•93 days ago

Here is a Youtube how to find such documents.

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=DB+to+WJD%2c+March+20%2c+1943%2c+Bruce+File%2c+CIA+FOIA.%22&mid=9B7BA59ED955DE6FD45F9B7BA59ED955DE6FD45F&mmscn=stvo&FORM=VIRE

spyhistorian.bsky.social•93 days ago

It's a nice video but more about general approaches rather than a tool to navigate the slightly idiosyncratic search function on the CIA website.

tombucsfan.bsky.social•93 days ago

https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp13x00001r000100420004-4

spyhistorian.bsky.social•93 days ago

Sadly, not it!

tombucsfan.bsky.social•93 days ago

I took a shot in the dark. It is easier where you are than Fla. The State Government ignores public record requests even though it is in the Florida Constitution. It can take years even though they have no right to drag their feet. Ask FL reporters how good DeSantis is at avoiding open records.

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