The public’s fascination with FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, a legend, an enigma, a symbol of law enforcement, a subject of much speculation, continues 38 years after his death.
Capitalizing on that, the National Law Enforcement Museum, which opens in March 2013 in Washington, has “sealed a deal” and gotten the J. Edgar Hoover Foundation to deed over some pretty cool things including Hoover’s office desk, telephone and chair, according to a newsletter by Laurie A. Baty, senior director of the museum.
On top of that, the deeded Hoover collection will include photographs, awards, recordings, correspondence, Hoover’s speeches, and other items “that relate to his life, specifically his tenure as director of the FBI from 1924 to 1972,” Baty wrote in the museum newsletter.
The newsletter also states:
“Also included in the donation are the papers of Morris Childs, a former high ranking member of the Communist Party in the United States.
“This collection of personal papers includes correspondence,reports, notes, speeches, writings, and interview transcripts relating to FBI surveillance of the Communist Party (known as Operation SOLO) and the relationship between the Communist Party of the United States and the Soviet Communist Party and government.”
“The J. Edgar Hoover Collection is certain to be a crown jewel among the strong collections of the National Law Enforcement Museum,” Baty wrote.
The Museum’s will also include items from Jimmy Stewart’s 1959 film The FBI Story and identity cards used by Joe Pistone during his organized crime undercover work as Donny Brasco, the newsletter said.
