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NARA Storage of Martin Luther King Surveillance Tapes



NATIONAL ARCHIVES FAILS TO STORE IMPORTANT MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AUDIOTAPES
IN SUITABLE CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT CONDITIONS
by Michael Ravnitzky , mikerav@ix.netcom.com

The FBI's surveillance tapes of Martin Luther King Jr., sealed until the
year 2027, are stored at the National Archives under conditions that will
not aid their preservation, according to internal documents released by
NARA.

The 83 reels of tape, recorded by the FBI in the early 1960s, were turned
over to the Archives in 1978 with the condition that they would be held
under seal for 50 years.  The period of seal, unless challenged earlier,
ends in 2027.

Despite the existence of an archival preservation protocol for audio tape
materials which calls for controlled environmental conditions, and the
availability of such storage at NARA, the Archives has thus far stored the
tapes in non-controlled conditions.  A spokesperson says that the tapes are
stored in a secure vault which has no provision for this type of climate
control.

A NARA internal memo dated August 4, 1978 says, in part, [quote] Because of
the sensitive nature of these tape recordings, the tapes should remain with
the related textual material in NNFJ's security area rather than be
transferred to NNVM. [unquote]

A spokesperson says that NARA is sensitive to preservation concerns.
However, it appears that the tapes have not been monitored for deterioration
of the tape media or the audio quality since a 1981 assessment during which
the tapes were being wound onto new reels with leaders.  David G. Paynter,
who submitted a report dated June 12, 1981 assessing the tapes, said that
the tapes were of poor recording quality, although he added that they did
not listen to the tapes at less than five times normal speed.

Some researchers have suggested that these tapes have historical
significance in understanding the interaction between the Justice Department
and the civil rights movement, particularly with regard to Dr. King.  They
feel that the 50 year period of seal is excessive and may bar access to the
materials if the tapes degrade under inferior storage conditions.  Others
point out the need to prevent further impositions on the privacy of the King
family.

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