Recently [1991] published in Prologue: Quarterly of the National Archives is a three-part article describing records related to Vietnam. The first part, by Charles Shaughnessy, describes the scope and content of the textual records collection. Approximately 30,000 cubic feet of materials created in the Republic of Vietnam by army commands and Joint Service headquarters were transferred to the National Archives in 1987. To date, about half have been processed and about 6,000 feet opened to researchers. An estimated 5,000 cubic feet of records remain closed due to their security classification.
The second part of this article is by Margaret O'Neill Adams of the Center for Electronic Records. Her article describes the variety of records in the Center's collection as split into two main categories; military and nonmilitary records.
a) Military records include the following: Combat Area Detail and Summary Files (OPREA), 1961-1973, Combat Naval Gunfire Support File (CONGA), Mar. 1966-Jan. 1973, Mine Warfare Activities File (MINEA), May 1972-Jan. 1973, Naval Surveillance Activities File (NAVSA), Feb 22, 1966-Dec. 9, 1972, Situation Report Army File (SITRA), 1966-1973, the [Southeast Asia] Combat Area Casualties Database, Hamlet Evaluation System (HES), Jan 1967-Jan 1974, Herbicide File (HERBO-2), 1965-1970, Military Prime Contract File, 1966- 1975, Phung Hoang Management Information System, Jan 1969- Jun 1972, Combat Operations Loss and Expenditure Data- Vietnam, 1968-1970, National Police Infrastructure Analysis System (NPIASS), Subsystems I and II, 1971-1973, and the Army Adjutant General's Center Casualty Information System, 1961-1981.
b) Nonmilitary records cover a number of topics and were collected from a variety of government agencies. Nonmilitary records related to Vietnam include the following: the Survey of Campus Incidents as Interpreted by Collecge Presidents, Faculty Chairmen, and Student Body Presidents (RG 220, Records of Temporary Committees, Commissions, and Boards - the President's Commission on Campus Unrest), a number of public opinion polls conducted by the US Information Agency during the early 1970's, and the Consistency Audit Data Base and Demographic Survey of Applicants (RG 429, Records in the Exective Office of the President, The Presidential Clemency Board, 1974-1975).
The third part of the article, by Elizabeth Hill, briefly describes the collection of photographs in the Still Pictures Branch of the National Archives. These photographs have only recently been transferred to the Archives and contains approximately 60,000 images. The bulk of the records date from 1964-1971.
For those interested in obtaining a copy of this issue of PROLOGUE, individual copies of the Spring 1991 issue (Vol. 23, No. 1), can be ordered for $3.00 each. Please make check or money order payable to the National Archives Trust Fund (NEPS) and send to the Cashier, National Archives, Washington, DC 20408.
For specific questions about electronic records from the Vietnam Era, the Reference Services office of the Center for Electronic Records can be contacted at (202) 501-5579 or via BITNET at TIF@NIHCU. Our address is Center for Electronic Records (NNX), Reference Services, ATTN: Margaret Adams, Washington, DC 20408.
Theodore Hull Archival Services Branch Center for Electronic Records