Selected Electronic Records Relating to International Relations and Trade

Electronic Records Reference Report

Introduction

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Department of Agriculture.

Casks of Danish Butter Imported at New York

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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 National Archives. 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 regarding international airline data and some Vietnam War, Korean War, and World War II records.  

Full descriptions of the series and data files listed in this report are in the National Archives Catalog. Users can search the Catalog by title, National Archives Identifier, type of archival material, or keyword.

Some of the series and files listed in this report are accessible online:

• Download - This is a link for downloading the files and documentation from the Catalog. For more details on downloading files, please review the frequently asked questions (FAQs).
• Search - This is a link for searching the records via the Access to Archival Databases (AAD) resource.

All of the files are also available for a cost-recovery fee. 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. 7/1/1973-12/31/1979, documenting the period 1973?-12/31/1979
  National Archives Identifier: 654098
  Data Files: 272 open or public use files
  Technical Documentation: over 240 pages and up to 16 electronic documentation files
  Online Access: Search

  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: www.archives.gov/research/foreign-policy/state-dept/rg-59-central-files/faqs.pdf.

Attitudinal 

Record Group 306: Records of the U.S. Information Agency

• World Wide Public Opinion Poll Files, compiled 1955-1999
  National Archives Identifier: 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 series description in the National Archives Catalog by clicking the link "1949 file(s) described in the catalog."

Foreign Aid 

Record Group 59: Records of the Department of State

• World Military Expenditures and Arms Transfers (WMEAT) Data Files, compiled 1974-1997
  National Archives Identifier: 617518
  Online Access: Download

  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
  National Archives Identifier: 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
  National Archives Identifier: 596668
  Online Access: Download

  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
  National Archives Identifier: 629271
  Online Access: Download

  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
   National Archives Identifier: 596221
   Online Access: Download
   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.

Record Group 490: Records of the Peace Corps 

• Reports and Budget Request Files, 1/1/1962 - 12/31/2002
  National Archives Identifier: 31199860
  Online Access: Download
  This series contains the Congressional Budget Justifications and Annual Reports sent to Congress.
   
• Reports and Studies of the Staff Epidemiologist, 1/1/2009 - 12/31/2014
  National Archives Identifier: 38983275
  Online Access: Download
  This series consists of annual reports entitled "The Health of the Volunteer" relating to the health of Peace Corps volunteers and trainees who served abroad in the calendar year.
   
• Welcome Books, 1/1/2006-12/31/2016
  National Archives Identifier: 51087241
  Online Access: Download
  This series consists of country welcome books that are provided to staff and volunteers as a resource that helps answer some initial questions and concerns regarding the country for which it is produced. Subjects covered include agency expectations, country history, government, economy, environment, people and culture, as well as expected living conditions for staff and volunteers while in country.  

Military and Defense 

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
  National Archives Identifier: 571524
  Online Access: Download       Search

  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. 10/1/1950-9/30/2017
  National Archives Identifier: 602571
  Data Files: 73
  Technical Documentation: varies per year
  Online Access: Search

  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
  National Archives Identifier: 574456
  Online Access: Download      Search

  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
  National Archives Identifier: 620478
  Online Access: Download

  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 

Record Group 29: Records of the Bureau of the Census

• International Database (IDB) Files, compiled ca. 1995-2010, documenting the period 1950-2050
  National Archives Identifier: 623918
  Online Access: Download

  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
  National Archives Identifier: 596225
  Online Access: Download

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

Health & Social Services 

Record Group 286: Records of the Agency for International Development

• Global Health Expenditures Database File, compiled 1998-2002
  National Archives Identifier: 629246
  Online Access: Download

  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
  National Archives Identifier: 606526
  Online Access: Download

  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
  National Archives Identifier: 602449
  Online Access: Download

  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 

Record Group 29: Records of the Bureau of the Census

• Annual Export Data Bank Files, compiled 1964-2007
  National Archives Identifier 566332
  Online Access: Download

  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
  National Archives Identifier 566342
  Online Access: Download

  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
  National Archives Identifier 566340
  Online Access: Download

  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
  National Archives Identifier 566341
  Online Access: Download

  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
  National Archives Identifier 840217
  Online Access: Download

  This series contains partial documentation in the form of electronic geographic codes for the 2005 data for the series "Annual Export Data Bank Files"(National Archives Identifier 566332), "Annual Import Data Bank Files" (National Archives Identifier 566340), and "Annual Export Non-Contiguous Data Bank Files" (National Archives Identifier 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
  National Archives Identifier 598879
  Online Access: Download

  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, documenting the period 1971 - 3/21/1986
  National Archives Identifier 2658177
  Online Access: Download

  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 1983-2004, documenting the period 1950-2004
  National Archives Identifier 598180
  Online Access: Download

  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
  National Archives Identifier: 601435
  Online Access: Download

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

• Intergovernmental Policy Advisory Committee on Trade] Meeting Transcripts, 4/11/1996 - 10/5/2000 
  National Archives Identifier: 148414379
  Online Access: Download
  This series consists of transcripts of open and closed meetings, in which committee members discussed negotiating and bargaining positions before entering into trade agreements, the impact of the implementation of trade agreements, operation of trade agreements, and other matters related to the development, implementation and administration of trade policy in the US, in order to provide advice on these issues.

• Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations] Meeting Transcripts, 4/11/1996 - 7/30/2001 
  National Archives Identifier: 148414384
  Online Access: Download
  This series consists of transcripts of open and closed meetings, in which committee members discussed negotiating and bargaining positions before entering into trade agreements, the impact of the implementation of trade agreements, operation of trade agreements, and other matters related to the development, implementation and administration of trade policy in the US, in order to provide advice on these issues.

• Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee] Meeting Transcripts, 4/11/1996 - 4/25/2001 
  National Archives Identifier: 148373497
  Online Access: Download
  This series consists of transcripts of open and closed meetings, in which committee members discussed negotiating and bargaining positions on environmental matters, the environmental impact of the implementation of trade agreements, operation of trade agreements, and other matters related to the development, implementation and administration of trade policy in the US, in order to provide advice on these issues.

• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Subject Files, 1/1/1991 - 12/31/1993 
  National Archives Identifier: 124450967
  Online Access: Download
  This series contains the working and subject files created during the drafting of the North American Free Trade Agreement in various sessions in several different locations over approximately two years. 
   

Record Group 434: General Records of the Department of Energy

• Report of Oil Imports into the United States and Puerto Rico, compiled 1986-1999
  National Archives Identifier: 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

• Index to the Donated Copy of the Records of the Trust, compiled 1981-1987, documenting the period 1731-1986
  National Archives Identifier: 571559
  Online Access: Download     Search

  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 Records Reference Report, Electronic Records Related to World War II

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

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

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

Electronic Records Reference Report,  Airline Traffic and Capacity Data

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.
 

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January 2023

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