Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Guardians of the nation's attic

The National Archives keeps watch over 10 billion historical records. And its treasure hunting team keeps watch over collector shows and EBay for the scraps of valuable history that have been stolen.

By Faye Fiore, Los Angeles Times
August 8, 2010

When Paul Brachfeld took over as inspector general of the National Archives, guardian of the country's most beloved treasures, he discovered the American people were being stolen blind.

The Wright Brothers 1903 Flying Machine patent application? Gone.

A copy of the Dec. 8, 1941 "Day of Infamy" speech autographed by Franklin D. Roosevelt and tied with a purple ribbon? Gone.

Target maps of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, war telegrams written by Abraham Lincoln and a scabbard and belt given to Harry S. Truman? Gone, gone and gone.

1 comment:

Leslie D. said...

I read that entire article and am amazed by the lack of security protecting historical treasures. It's not enough to have a recovery specialist for stolen items - They've got to devise a better system at the national Archives so things don't walk out the door like that!Sheesh..