General Records of the Department of State (RG 59)
Records of the Bureau of Public Affairs
Notice to Researchers in Records Released under the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act and the Japanese Imperial Government Records Act
The Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group (IWG), in implementing the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act and the Japanese Imperial Government Records Act, has taken the broadest view in identifying records that may be responsive to the Acts. Information relevant to the Acts is often found among files related to other subjects. In order to preserve the archival integrity of the files, the IWG and the National Archives and Records Administration, where possible, have released entire files together, not just those items related to Nazi or Japanese war criminals, crimes, persecution, and looted assets. These records may relate to persons who are war criminals, former Axis personnel who are not war criminals, victims of war crimes or persecution, or civilian or military personnel investigating Nazi activities. The records may also include mention of, or information about, persons having no connection to these activities.
Records of the Office of the Historian
Records of the Tripartite Commission for the Restitution of Monetary Gold 1946-1998
This series contains copies of selected official records of the Tripartite Gold Commission (TGC) that were sent to the State Department when the TGC was terminated on September 9, 1998, for transfer to NARA. Another set of these selected records was sent to the Public Records Office in Great Britain. All of the official TGC records were transferred to the French National Archives in Paris.
Boxes 1-7 location: 250/63/21/2
Records of the Office of the Legal Advisor
Records of the Assistant Legal Advisor for Cultural Relations and Public Affairs
Subject Files 1943-1972 (Looted Art)
A small portion of the records includes files relating to the recovery of cultural objects dispersed during World War II, and the programs for the return of historic objects to countries of origin. These files consist of correspondence, memorandums, and minutes of inter-Departmental committees and international conferences relating to looted art, disposition of German Libraries, settlement of cultural properties under U.S. control, and international protection of artistic and historic property. Also included are copies of Department of State Bulletin articles written by Ardelia Hall, and other reports that refer to her expert advice and guidance on these cultural concerns.
Boxes 1-7 location: 250/63/21/3
Records of the Assistant Legal Advisor for Educational, Cultural, and Public Affairs
Subject Files 1945-1997
location: 150/72/01/02
Records Relating to Claims with Hungary 1946-1968
Includes cables, claims, correspondence, inventories, ledgers, memorandums, minutes of meetings, vesting orders, reports, summaries of discussions, and other records relating to claims by Hungary and Hungarian nationals against the United States, and claims by the United States and U.S. nationals against Hungary. Most of the claims arose from actions taken during the 1930s, World War II, and the Cold War. Categories of claims by the U.S. and U.S. nationals against Hungary include claims for war damages; nationalization of property; defaulted Kingdom of Hungary, Hungarian municipal, and Hungarian Land Reform dollar bonds; and a November 1951 "aerial incident" in which Hungary confiscated a U.S. Air Force C-47 and its contents after the plane either mistakenly landed, or was forced to land, in Hungary. Categories of claims by Hungary and Hungarian nationals against the U.S. include claims for property vested under the Trading With the Enemy Act, restitution for Hungarian property taken by the retreating German Army into what became U.S. occupation zones in Germany and Austria, blocked assets, transfers of inheritances, U.S. Government payments withheld from Hungarian residents, the return of the Crown of St. Stephen , and the "Hungarian Gold Train." Also included in this series is a file relating to Robert A. Vogeler. The Hungarians arrested Vogeler, an executive with International Telephone and Telegraph, in November 1949. He was charged and convicted of espionage in February 1950, and sentenced to fifteen years in prison. The Hungarians released him in April 1951. The series also has a few records relating to Hungarian assets vested by the U.S. during World War I, and a couple of records relating to the estate of Hungarian composer Bela Bartok. Arranged by subject. A NARA-produced box list is available.
Boxes 1-6 location: 250/63/16/04
and Box 7 location: 250/B/24/06