Spy Files Available at Denver Public Library after February, 2006
On June 17, 2004, Mayor John Hickenlooper announced that the Denver Police Department’s Spy Files will be indexed, archived, and available to the subjects of the files and members of the public, as part of the Denver Public Library’s Western History Collection. The announcement came after months of discussions between ACLU attorneys, the City Attorney’s Office, and archivists employed by the Denver library.
When the archiving and indexing process is completed, some time after February, 2006, any person will be able to review documents referring to them by name, with the names of other individuals redacted. Names of organizations will not be redacted. Individuals representing organizations will be able to review any documents mentioning that organization. Copies will be free for the first year.
Some portions of the collection will be open to all members of the public; others will be closed to the public for 50 years. Additional details are provided in Mayor Hickenlooper’s news release of June 17, 2004
2010 Update on how to access your Spy File at the Denver Public Library
Jim Kroll, head of the Western History Collection at Denver Public Library, provides updated information about how to find out if you are one of the 58,000 persons whose names appear in the archived and indexed Denver Spy Files that are now housed at the Denver Public Library. An interview with Kroll comprises part of a seven-minute segment titled "Denver Spy Files -- Morning Edition Segment" that was broadcast on Colorado Public Radio, April 5, 2010. (After clicking on the link, look for the orange LISTEN NOW button on the right-hand side of the screen).