National Archives Releases First Civil Rights Cold Case Records
Press Release · Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Washington, DC

The National Archives and Records Administration has released the first set of records under the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act. Previously unavailable to the public digitally, these records are from civil rights cold case records related to incidents occurring between 1940 and 1979.

The Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2019, established a review board that identifies and reviews records for potential public access. This release is part of a multi-year effort in which the National Archives collaborated with the Civil Rights Cold Cases Review Board, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to identify, digitize, and review these records. 

“The National Archives exists to ensure that the public has access to the records of our government,” said Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan. “The release of these records, and the many more to come, will  hopefully help foster a deeper understanding of our nation’s civil rights history, provide friends and family transparency and closure, and help those impacted claim justice.”

The first records release is of documents from the 1945 death of Hattie Debardelaben, a 46-year-old Black mother and grandmother. Those records have been digitized and made available for access through the National Archives Catalog. Additional records will be released on a rolling basis.

The National Archives will launch the Civil Rights Cold Case Records portal in the near future, which will provide direct public access to these digitized records.

“Employees throughout the National Archives have done excellent work on this project,” said Deputy Chief Operating Officer Meghan Guthorn. “They created new and innovative ways to streamline work, and I can’t speak highly enough of the team, their efforts, and the fresh way of looking at this type of access, which will benefit our researchers who seek information in our holdings.”

About the National Archives

The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent federal agency that serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our government so people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives ensures continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government. From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch the lives of millions of people. The agency supports democracy, promotes civic education, and facilitates historical understanding of our national experience. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries and online at www.archives.gov.