Harry Steinmetz 11.7.22

Robert Skvarla, Jr. filed this request with the Federal Bureau of Investigation of the United States of America.
Tracking #

1572934-000

Status
Completed

Communications

From: Robert Skvarla, Jr.

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

To Whom It May Concern:

You are receiving this correspondence as a request under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. subsection 552. I am requesting the following:

Copies of all records, documents, and communications responsive to Dr. Harry Charles Steinmetz (December 8, 1898 - February 15, 1981). Dr. Steinmetz was Professor Emeritus of Psychology at San Diego State University. Between 1942 and 1980 the Federal Bureau of Investigation monitored the actions of Dr. Steinmetz as part of an ongoing program devoted to investigating suspected communists. Dr. Steinmetz sent a Freedom of Information Act request for his file in the seventies, resulting in his receiving 934 pages of documents in or about 1978.

I am requesting all responsive records issued previously to Dr. Steinmetz and any that may not have been released before his death. As verification of Dr. Steinmetz's prior FOIPA release, I am attaching correspondence between Dr. Steinmetz and the Bureau. First is a February 11, 1977 response letter from the Bureau identifying 658 pages of documents responsive to Dr. Steinmetz, and second is a response to an appeal made by Dr. Steinmetz identifying an additional 276 pages of Bureau documents. These two page counts total 934 pages of documents. This correspondence can be found in the special collections archive at San Diego State University, under Dr. Steinmetz personal effects and papers (MS-0305).

There is no expectation of a violation of Dr. Steinmetz's privacy, as he passed away in 1981. Privacy rights are not extended to deceased persons. I have attached a reproduction of Dr. Steinmetz's obituary, taken from the The Los Angeles Times, as verification. As this is information the Bureau has released to other parties, there should be no further concerns over making this information public.

I am asking you waive any fees associated with this request. I am a member of the news media, with bylines including Covert Action Magazine, Janata Weekly, and Philly Voice. Please take note of the Office of Management and Budget guidelines published March 27, 1987 (52 FR 10012) that include electronic publications and other nontraditional publishers as representatives of the news media.

This request is not being made for commercial purposes. All documents will be provided to the general public without charge.

In the event that there are fees, I am willing to pay up to $100. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

I look forward to your response within 20 working days, as the statute requires. If access to the records I am requesting will take longer, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.

If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.

Sincerely,

Robert Skvarla, Jr.

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,

Robert Skvarla, Jr.

From: Federal Bureau of Investigation

There are eFOIA files available for you to download.

  • E0136b12d7cbd2b120930c703e741b7c4ae3b02b4_Q167254_D164869496

From: Federal Bureau of Investigation

There are eFOIA files available for you to download.

  • E0136b12d7cbd2b120930c703e741b7c4ae3b02b4_Q167254_R419668_D164946152

  • E0136b12d7cbd2b120930c703e741b7c4ae3b02b4_Q167254_R419668_D164946149

From: Federal Bureau of Investigation

There are eFOIA files available for you to download.

  • E0136b12d7cbd2b120930c703e741b7c4ae3b02b4_Q167254_R419668_D164946152

  • E0136b12d7cbd2b120930c703e741b7c4ae3b02b4_Q167254_R419668_D164946149

Files

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  • 11/08/2022

    Harry_Steinmetz_FBI.pdf

  • 11/08/2022

    Harry_Steinmetz_Obituary.pdf

  • 11/22/2022

    E0136b12d7cbd2b120930c703e741b7c4ae3b02b4_Q167254_D164869496

  • 03/20/2023

    E0136b12d7cbd2b120930c703e741b7c4ae3b02b4_Q167254_R419668_D164946149

  • 03/20/2023

    E0136b12d7cbd2b120930c703e741b7c4ae3b02b4_Q167254_R419668_D164946152

  • 03/21/2023

    E0136b12d7cbd2b120930c703e741b7c4ae3b02b4_Q167254_R419668_D164946149

  • 03/21/2023

    E0136b12d7cbd2b120930c703e741b7c4ae3b02b4_Q167254_R419668_D164946152