In the past couple of weeks, I've noticed that a couple of posters on different boards have made an issue over JFK-related photos and other artefacts that were not turned over to the ARRB in the 1990s. Most recently, there's a kerfluffle over the Darnell film being given by NBC to the Sixth Floor Library. Just for reference, the JFK assassination records act orders that all "assassination records" be turned over the NARA. However, the act defines "assassination record" thus:
(2) "Assassination record" means a record that is related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, that was created or made available for use by, obtained by, or otherwise came into the possession of—
(A) the Commission to Investigate the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy (the Warren Commission");
(B) the Commission on Central Intelligence Agency Activities Within the United States (the "Rockefeller Commission");
(C) the Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities (the "Church Committee");
(D) the Select Committee on Intelligence (the "Pike Committee") of the House of Representatives;
(E) the Select Committee on Assassinations (the "House Assassinations Committee") of the House of Representatives;
(F) the Library of Congress;
(G) the National Archives and Records Administration;
(H) any Presidential library;
(I) any Executive agency;
(J) any independent agency;
(K) any other office of the Federal Govermment; and
(L) any State or local law enforcement office that provided support or assistance or performed work in connection with a Federal inquiry into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, but does not include the autopsy records donated by the Kennedy family to the National Archives pursuant to a deed of gift regulating access to those records, or copies and reproductions made from such records.
That is, only government entities were required to turn over JFKA material to NARA. Private parties were not covered by the Act. BTW, "independent agencies" refers to a specific class of government or government-sponsored entities that have regulatory powers or are semi-independent of the executive branch. The latter class contains groups like Amtrack, USPS, and the Peace Corps .
I'm still surprised that people still argue over this.
