Dear JPat Brown (MUCKROCK):

*SUBJECT:* FBI's files on Emma Goldman, which according to the FBI
response would be located under file number *61-HQ-291 *

Thank you for submitting your Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act
request to the National Archives and Records Administration.

Due to the nature of your request, we have forwarded your request to our
Office of Research Services, Special Access and FOIA staff, for appropriate
handling. You've requested documents that may already be open to the public
and not subject to FOIA. Federal records are transferred to NARA no
earlier than 15 years and as late as 30 years from the date the document
was created. You will be assigned a new tracking number by that office
within the next 20 business days. If you would like to follow up with that
office directly please contact them at specialaccess_FOIA@nara.gov
<file:///S:/FOIA/FOIA%20CASE%20FILES/FOIA%20Simple%20Reference%20Correspondence%20Williams/specialaccess_FOIA@nara.gov>
.

For your reference, your original submission is below.

Thank you for contacting the National Archives and please visit our website
at www.archives.gov/foia
<file:///S:/FOIA/FOIA%20CASE%20FILES/FOIA%20Simple%20Reference%20Correspondence%20Williams/www.archives.gov/foia%20>
for
further information.

Please also visit our main website, www.archives.gov
<file:///S:/FOIA/FOIA%20CASE%20FILES/FOIA%20Simple%20Reference%20Correspondence%20Williams/www.archives.gov>,
to learn more about the many exciting resources we offer the public.

Sincerely,

Wanda Williams
Deputy Freedom of Information Act Officer/Archivist
National Archives and Records Administration
Office of General Counsel
College Park, Maryland
301-837-0773 work
wanda.williams@nara.gov

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <
​​
requests@muckrock.com>
Date: Tue, Apr 5, 2016 at 3:41 PM
Subject: Freedom of Information Request: Emma Goldman (FBI)
To: foia@nara.gov

April 5, 2016
National Archives and Records Administration
FOIA Officer
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road, Room 3110
College Park, MD 20740

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request
the following records:

A copy of the
​​
FBI's files on Emma Goldman, which according to the FBI response would be
located under file number 61-HQ-291

I am journalist who writes extensively about FBI files -
https://www.muckrock.com/project/subjects-matter-fbi-files-10/, which have
received national and international attention -
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3219376/Undercover-FBI-agents-spy-annual-Burning-Man-festival-light-ongoing-war-terrorism-use-test-new-intelligence-collection-technology.html

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and
this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform
me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer
the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or
CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I
look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business
days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

JPat Brown

------
Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com

For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock
DEPT MR 25028
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516

PLEASE NOTE: This request was filed by a MuckRock staff reporter. Also note
that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than
"MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as
undeliverable.
------

Dear Mr. Brown,

This is in response to your Freedom of Information Act request for records
in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration. Your
request was received in this office on April 20, 2016 and assigned FOIA
case number *49825*.

You requested access to FBI case file *61-HQ-291*, identified as
potentially responsive to your request for files relating to Emma Goldman.
My initial assessment confirms that *Emma Goldman* is the subject of this
case file. The file has an estimated 400 pages and was compiled in the
course of a treason investigation. The records in this file are dated
between 1921 and 1975.

This file requires screening for categories of information exempted from
disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (5 USC 552) prior to being
made publicly available. In particular, there are documents that may be
redacted to protect the identities of named informants or confidential
sources, including source codes and informant file numbers.

Requests for single-section FBI case files are assigned to our first-tier
processing queue. Taking into consideration our existing backlog, the
estimated time required to complete the processing of your request is
approximately 18 months from the date of this correspondence.

To notify this office regarding a change in your contact information, or to
track the status of your request, please telephone (301) 837-3190, or
e-mail specialaccess_foia@nara.gov <specialaccess_foia@nara.gov>. If you
have substantive questions regarding the review of this file, you may reach
me at (301) 837-0774 or noah.shankin@nara.gov. Please cite FOIA case number
49825 in any further communications concerning this request.

Sincerely,

Noah Shankin
--

Noah D. Shankin
Archivist,
National Archives & Records Administration
Special Access and FOIA Branch (RDF)

Dear Mr. Brown,

Noah Shankin forwarded to me your request concerning a status update for
your FOIA case 49825 (FBI case file 61-HQ-291 regarding Emma Goldman).

We took a closer look at the file and determined that most of the records
are dated prior to 1940. Documents from the 1970s are mostly administrative
in nature, and we should be able to release the file with minimal
redactions. I am processing the file now and will provide additional
information in a few days. You may contact me by email at
marykay.schmidt@nara.gov if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

MARY KAY SCHMIDT
Archivist
Special Access and FOIA Staff
National Archives and Records Administration

June 8, 2016

Dear Mr. Brown:

I write in response to your May 30, 2016, request for a status update
concerning your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case 49825. You requested
access to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) case file 61-HQ-291 regarding
Emma Goldman.

We examined the file further and determined that most of the documents are
dated prior to 1940. We completed a line-by-line review of FBI case file
61-HQ-291 and released information to the greatest extent possible.
Information exempted from disclosure in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act has been redacted to protect the identities of confidential
sources per 5 USC 552 (b)(7)(D). A summary of the file, as released to you,
is provided below:

FBI case file 61-HQ-291: 398 total pages; 397 pages released in full and
one page released in redacted form.

You have the right to appeal our decision to restrict access, either in
whole or in part, to any document over which this agency has release
authority, within 60 calendar days from the date of this letter. Appeals
must be submitted in writing and addressed to the Deputy Archivist of the
United States, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi
Road, Room 4200, College Park, MD 20740-6001. In your letter, please cite
your case number and clearly label both letter and envelope as a FOIA
Appeal. As an alternative, you may email your appeal to foia@nara.gov.
Please use the words "FOIA Appeal" in the subject line and also cite your
case number.

You may view a redacted version of the file in the Motion Pictures reading
room of the National Archives at College Park, Maryland. To make
arrangements, please contact me by email at marykay.schmidt@nara.gov at
least two days in advance of your planned visit. We will provide a CD
containing the file in pdf format for your use in the reading room. You may
download the file to your personal laptop computer or a thumb drive at no
cost to you.

If you cannot schedule a visit to our College Park facility, the standard
rate for reproduction orders is $.80 per page, regardless of format. The
total cost for the file is $318.40 (398 pages x $.80 per page). Please
contact me by email at marykay.schmidt@nara.gov to request a price quote or
if you have any questions concerning the processing of your request.

This concludes the processing of your FOIA request.

Sincerely,

MARY KAY SCHMIDT
Archivist
Special Access and FOIA Staff
National Archives and Records Administration