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About this Project

The New York State Archives’ (NYSA) firsthand experience with archival theft uniquely positioned us to undertake this project. In January of 2008, a longtime Archives employee was arrested for the theft of items from the holdings of the State Archives and State Library. The subsequent investigation and prosecution, which led to the employee’s conviction and incarceration, revealed a pattern of theft that lasted over a decade and ravaged our collections.

With the “Historical Records Theft: Strategies for Prevention and Response” project, the State Archives is disseminating the knowledge, experience, and tools gained through this tragedy so that repositories can better protect themselves and their holdings from loss. 

This project was made possible with the support of a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission and of the New York State Historical Records Advisory Board.

Acknowledgements

Mimi Bowling, Consulting Archivist and Workshop Instructor
Richard Strassberg, Retired Security Consultant
National Archives and Records Administration, Archival Recovery and Holdings Protection Network
Participating Staff of the New York State Archives

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Contact Us about “Historical Records Theft: Strategies for Prevention and Response”

We welcome your feedback on “Historical Records Theft: Strategies for Prevention and Response.” Please send questions and comments to dhs@nysed.gov.