Foreign Affairs

Selected Electronic Records Relating to International Relations and Trade

Electronic and Special Media Records Services Division Reference Report

Introduction

This reference report highlights a selection of electronic records with a primary focus on foreign countries and international issues involving the United States that are in the custody of the Electronic and Special Media Records Services Division. This report does not include records that are classified, where the data are exempt from disclosure under FOIA, public use versions have not yet been made, nor records directly relating to military conflicts. See the Related Information section of this report regarding some Vietnam War, Korean War, and World War II records. This report also excludes series containing international airline data which may be found at ARC identification numbers 594531, 620324, 635655, 627213, and 620324. Descriptions of the all the Division's holdings, including the series listed in this report, are available in NARA's Archival Research Catalog (ARC), which can be searched by title, ARC identification number (ARC ID), type of archival material, or keyword.

Those electronic series listed in this reference report that are accessible online through the Access to Archival Databases (AAD) resource have an AAD logo AAD next to them. Researchers may order copies of these computerized data files on removable media for a cost-recovery fee and analyze the records directly, using whatever hardware and software they have. For more information see Ordering Information for Electronic Records.

Foreign Relations

Record Group 59: Records of the Department of State

  • Central Foreign Policy Files, compiled ca. 7/1/1973-12/31/1976, documenting the period 1973?-12/31/1976 AAD
    ARC ID: 654098
    Data Files: 144
    Technical Documentation: 112 pages and 6 electronic documentation files

    This series includes files of electronic telegrams and indices to microfilmed documents. The telegrams contain information regarding all aspects of American bilateral and multilateral foreign relations and some administrative and operational activities of the Department of State and its Foreign Service posts. NARA's Textual Records Division also has custody of textual (microfilm and paper) records in this series. More information about these records is available in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for this series via AAD or directly at: http://aad.archives.gov/aad/content/aad_docs/rg59_state_dept_faq.pdf (insert underscores when accessing this URL).

Attitudinal Data


Record Group 306: Records of the U.S. Information Agency
  • World Wide Public Opinion Poll Files, compiled 1955-1999
    ARC ID: 617497
    Data Files: varies per survey
    Technical Documentation: varies per survey and may include supplemental documentation

    This series contains public opinion poll response data to over 1,600 media and attitude surveys taken in countries throughout the world on a wide range of topics. A complete list of the survey files is available through the ARC series description by clicking the link "1633 file units described in ARC."

Foreign Aid Data

Record Group 59: Records of the Department of State

  • World Military Expenditures and Arms Transfers (WMEAT) Data Files, compiled 1974-1997
    ARC ID: 617518
    Data Files: 51
    Technical Documentation: 211 pages and one electronic documentation file

    This series contains data relating to international military spending and arms shipments. It was originally compiled by the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency.

Record Group 286: Records of the Agency for International Development
  • Bibliographic Files, compiled 1974-9/30/2003, documenting the period 1950-2003
    ARC ID: 596228
    Data Files: 6
    Technical Documentation: 146 pages for the Development Information System files; 185 pages for the Development Experience System files and six electronic documentation files

    This series contains bibliographic records of international development project papers, evaluation reports, and contractor reports on development assistance projects. These records are from the Development Experience and Development Information Systems.

  • Indexes to Development Project Documents, compiled 1983-1987, documenting the period 1974-1987
    ARC ID: 596668
    Data Files: 2
    Technical Documentation: 81 pages

    This series consists of two files that serve as indexes to the records of foreign aid projects from the Africa, Asia, and Middle East (Near East) Bureaus of the Agency for International Development (AID). The files are part of the Bureau databases portion of AID's Development Information System.

  • Disaster Commodity and Service File, compiled 1964-2000
    ARC ID: 629271
    Data Files: 2
    Technical Documentation: 4 pages

    This series consists of records used to track the commodities or services provided by the U.S. government for international disaster relief. The records include country, disaster type, and commodity or service.

  • Disaster History File (DHF), compiled 1964-1995, documenting the period 1900-1995
    ARC ID: 596221
    Data Files: 2
    Technical Documentation: 4 pages

    This series contains basic information about foreign disasters, disaster related aid, and emergency management. Records include disaster name, location - country, region, date, type, and mass casualties, along with information about the commodities and services provided as disaster relief by the United States.

Military and Defense Data

Record Group 330: Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense

  • Records About Defense Spending and Receipts in Foreign Countries, compiled 3/5/1968 - 9/30/1985, documenting the period 7/1/1959-9/30/1985 AAD
    ARC ID: 571524
    Data Files: 1
    Technical Documentation: 144 pages

    This series, also known as International Military Balance of Payments (IBOP), contains data on U.S. direct defense spending and U.S. military receipts in foreign countries.

  • Records About Military Goods and Services Provided to Foreign Countries, compiled ca. 10/1/1950-9/30/2008 AAD
    ARC ID: 602571
    Data Files: 37
    Technical Documentation: 122 pages and 213 electronic documentation files

    This series, also known as the Military Assistance Program (MAP), provides information about deliveries of U.S. military materials or services to participating countries.

Record Group 373: Records of the Defense Intelligence Agency
  • Log of Intelligence Reports About Seized Grenadan Records, compiled 11/22/1983-2/7/1985, documenting the period 7/11/1919-12/31/1984 AAD
    ARC ID: 574456
    Data Files: 1
    Technical Documentation: 50 pages

    This series contains a log with fields that are useful for finding records within the series "Seized Grenadan Records, 1983-1985" (Microfiche). The Grenadan records described in this log were captured by the U.S. military during the October 1983 invasion of Grenada.

Record Group 383: Records of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
  • Arms Control Treaties, compiled ca. 1990-1997, documenting the period 1927-1997
    ARC ID: 620478
    Data Files: 408 html files (available as 1 TAR)
    Technical Documentation: 2 pages and 2 electronic (txt) documentation files

    The series contains the text of 38 treaties or agreements. It was originally compiled by the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency as Processor for Arms Control Treaties (PACTS).

Socio-economic Data

Record Group 29: Records of the Bureau of the Census

  • International Database (IDB) Files, compiled ca. 1995-2010, documenting the period 1950-2050
    ARC ID: 623918
    Data Files: 31
    Technical Documentation: 134 pages and 15 electronic documentation files

    This series contains demographic and socioeconomic statistics for 227 countries and areas of the world, including data projected as far ahead as 2050.

Record Group 286: Records of the Agency for International Development
  • Economic and Social Indicators for Eighteen Latin American Nations File, compiled 1960-1971
    ARC ID: 596225
    Data Files: 1
    Technical Documentation: 59 pages

    This series contains social survey statistics and economic statistics for 18 countries in Latin America.

Health & Social Services Data

Record Group 286: Records of the Agency for International Development

  • Global Health Expenditures Database File, compiled 1998-2002
    ARC ID: 629246
    Data Files: 5
    Technical Documentation: 23 pages and 1 electronic documentation file

    This series includes records used to track information about international population assistance projects and relate primarily to family planning and reproductive health expenditures. The records may contain the following types of information: region, country, expenses, amount of aid for contraceptives, expenditures, and disbursements.

Record Group 443: Records of the National Institutes of Health
  • Longitudinal Study of Malnutrition and Mental Development in Guatemala Files, compiled 1969-1977
    ARC ID: 606526
    Data Files: 57
    Technical Documentation: 481 pages

    This series contains data from a nutritional intervention study on the relationship between malnutrition and mental development in four selected villages in rural Guatemala.

Record Group 510: Records of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
  • International Collaborative Study of Medical Care Utilization Files, compiled 1968-1969
    ARC ID: 602449
    Data Files: 12
    Technical Documentation: 127 pages

    This series contains social survey information on selected demographic characteristics, attitudinal and socioeconomic factors, and respondent's perceptions of illness and its severity. Data are from ten study sites: Alberta, British Columbia, Baltimore, Vermont, Rijeka, Buenos Aires, Helsinki, Liverpool, Lodz, and Saskatchewan.

Trade and Finance Data

Record Group 29: Records of the Bureau of the Census

  • Annual Export Data Bank Files, compiled 1964-2007
    ARC ID: 566332
    Data Files: 49
    Technical Documentation: varies per statistical year; supplemental electronic documentation files available in the Harmonized Commodity Master Files (ARC ID 566341) and Geographic Master Files (ARC ID 840217)

    This series contains annual summary data on all of the trade shipments of a commodity to a particular country from a customs district.

  • Annual Export Non-Contiguous Data Bank Files, compiled 1981-2007
    ARC ID: 566342
    Data Files: 25
    Technical Documentation: varies per statistical year; electronic documentation files available as separate series; additional electronic documentation files available in the Harmonized Commodity Master Files (ARC ID 566341) and Geographic Master Files (ARC ID 840217)

    This series consists of annual summary data on government and non-government shipments of commodities from the United States to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and from Puerto Rico to the United States. The records are also described as "Annual Trade Summaries between the United States and U.S. Possessions."

  • Annual Import Data Bank Files, compiled 1964-2007
    ARC ID: 566340
    Data Files: 78
    Technical Documentation: varies per dataset; additional electronic documentation files available in the Harmonized Commodity Master Files (ARC ID 566341) and Geographic Master Files (ARC ID 840217)

    This series contains annual summary data on shipments of commodities imported into a U.S. Customs Area from a foreign country. The data includes shipments to the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, but excludes shipments to the Virgin Islands.

  • Harmonized Commodity Master Files, compiled 1966-2007
    ARC ID: 566341
    Data Files: 36
    Technical Documentation: 114 pages

    This series contains partial documentation in the form of electronic code tables for the Annual Import Data Bank Files and Annual Export Data Bank Files listed above. The code tables include commodity descriptions and classifications. Harmonized Commodity Master Files are not available for the years 1971-1982.

  • Geographic Master Files, compiled 2005-2007
    ARC ID: 840217
    Data Files: 3
    Technical Documentation: 6 pages

    This series contains partial documentation in the form of electronic geographic codes for the 2005 data for the series "Annual Export Data Bank Files"(ARC ID 566332), "Annual Import Data Bank Files" (ARC ID 566340), and "Annual Export Non-Contiguous Data Bank Files" (ARC ID 566342) listed above. Included are the most commonly used codes and descriptions in the processing of statistics trade data.

Record Group 77: Records of the Office of the Chief of Engineers
  • Domestic and International Transportation of U.S. Foreign Trade, compiled 1970
    ARC ID: 598879
    Data Files: 1
    Technical Documentation: 77 pages

    This series contains sample data for all non-bulk commodities moving by air or water into or out of the United States.

Record Group 82: Records of the Federal Reserve System
  • Domestic and Foreign Annual Desk Reports, compiled 1971-1975, documenting the period 1971-1975
    ARC ID: 2658177
    Data Files: 10
    Technical Documentation: 4 pages

    This series consists of narrative and statistical reports covering domestic and foreign open market operations and the economic and financial conditions underlying those operations.

Record Group 265: Records of the Office of Foreign Assets Control
  • Blocked Foreign Assets Database File, compiled 1983-1996, documenting the period 1950-1996
    ARC ID: 598180
    Data Files: 3 public use version files
    Technical Documentation: 12 pages

    This series contains information about the frozen foreign assets of foreign countries, transnational terrorists, international narcotics traffickers, and foreign entities engaged in activities relating to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The public use versions omit information relating to internal agency practices, personal bank account information, and trade secrets and commercial or financial information.

Record Group 364: Records of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
  • Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) Files, compiled 1988-1992
    ARC ID: 601435
    Data Files: 2
    Technical Documentation: 18 pages

    This series contains data from individuals, companies, or foreign countries who submitted petitions seeking tariff preference for specific items.

Record Group 434: General Records of the Department of Energy
  • Report of Oil Imports into the United States and Puerto Rico, compiled 1986-1999
    ARC ID: 626919
    Data Files: 98
    Technical Documentation: 127 pages and 2 electronic documentation files

    This series contains data collected on Energy Information Administration (EIA) Form 814, Monthly Imports Report, which has petroleum imports data reported at the company level.

Miscellaneous


Collection: Records of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands AAD
  • Index to the Donated Copy of the Records of the Trust, compiled 1981-1987, documenting the period 1731-1986
    ARC ID: 571559
    Data Files: 1
    Technical Documentation: 11 pages and 2 electronic documentation files

    This series is an index to copied records of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI) from the period of its governance by the United States through a Trusteeship Agreement with the United Nations.

Related Information

Electronic and Special Media Records Services Division Reference Report, Electronic Records Related to World War II

Electronic and Special Media Records Services Division Reference Report, Records of U.S. Military Casualties, Missing in Action, and Prisoners of War from the Era of the Korean War

Electronic and Special Media Records Services Division Reference Report, Records of U.S. Military Casualties, Missing in Action, and Prisoners of War from the Era of the Vietnam War

Electronic and Special Media Records Services Division Reference Report, Electronic Data Records Relating to Military Objectives and Activities During the Vietnam War

Margaret O. Adams, "Historical Electronic Records Related to the Cold War Preserved in the National Archives and Records Administration," Conference on the Power of Free Inquiry and Cold War International History (September 1998).

Other finding aids and guides are listed on Research on International Topics at the National Archives and State Department Records in the National Archives.

Contact Us


Reference Services
Electronic and Special Media Records Services Division (NWME)
National Archives at College Park
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001
(301) 837-0470
email: cer@nara.gov

March 2012

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