<
 
 
 
 
×
>
hide
You are viewing a Web site, archived on 12:48:04 Oct 15, 2004. It is now a Federal record managed by the National Archives and Records Administration.
External links, forms, and search boxes may not function within this collection.
Graphic of a blue block spacer
Graphic of the FBI Seal and U.S. Flag and link to FBI Homepage
Freedom of Information-Privacy Act Graphic link
 
Graphic link to FBI Priorities
Graphic link to About Us
Graphic link to Press Room
Graphic link to What We Investigate
Graphic link to Counterterrorism
Graphic link to Most Wanted
Graphic link to Law Enforcement Services
Graphic link to Your Local FBI Office
Graphic link to Reports and Publications
Graphic link to FBI History
Graphic link to For the Family
Graphic link to Employment
Graphic link to How Do I...?
Graphic link to Search

Graphic link to Homepage

 

Graphic link to Submit a Tip
Graphic link to Apply Today
Graphic link to Links
Graphic link to Contact Us
Graphic link to Site Map
Graphic link to Privacy Policy
FBI History
 

The FBI originated from a force of Special Agents created in 1908 by Attorney General Charles Bonaparte during the Presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. They served under the Attorney General at the Department of Justice as the Bureau of Investigation. Bonaparte ordered the Agents to report to Stanley W. Finch. The White Slavery Act was passed in June 1910, and Finch became Commissioner of the White Slavery Act in 1912. Special Examiner, A. Bruce Bielaski, became the new Bureau of Investigation Chief. In 1919, William J. Flynn became the Director of Bureau of Investigation. Next, William J. Burns was appointed Bureau of Investigation Director, and he appointed J. Edgar Hoover as his Assistant Director. Upon the death of President Warren G. Harding in 1923, his successor, Calvin Coolidge appointed Harlen Fiske Stone as the new Attorney General. Stone on May 10, 1924, selected Hoover to head the Bureau of Investigation. The Bureau of Investigation was renamed The United States Bureau of Investigation on July 1, 1932. In 1935, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was born. Director Hoover died on May 2, 1972, at the age of 77, just shy of 48 years as Director of the FBI. President Nixon appointed L. Patrick Gray as Acting Director the day after Hoover's death. Gray appointed the first female agents to the role as FBI Agents since the 1920's. Gray resigned on July 9, 1973, and William Ruckleshaus was Director until the appointment of Clarence Kelley. In 1978, Kelley resigned, and was replaced by former federal Judge William H. Webster. On May 26, 1987, Judge Webster left the FBI to become Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Director John E. Otto was Acting Director and served until November 2, 1987. On November 2, 1987, former federal Judge William Steele Sessions was sworn in as FBI Director. On September 1, 1993, Louis J. Freeh was appointed Director of the FBI. After Freeh's resignation, Robert S. Mueller, III was appointed Director on September 10, 2001. He is the current FBI Director.


Introduction

Reading Room Index
- A   B   C   D   E    F   G
- H   I    J    K   L   M   N   
- O   P   Q   R   S   T   U
- V   W   X   Y   Z   

Electronic Reading Room

- Alphabetical Listing
- Espionage
- Famous Persons
- Gangster Era
- Historical Interest
- Unusual Phenomena
- Violent Crime
FBI File Fact Sheet
FOIA Request Instructions
- FOIA Request Form
- Privacy Waiver and Certificate of Identity Form
Privacy Act Instructions
- Privacy Act Request Form
DOJ Reference Guide
U.S. DOJ FOIA
Search
Link - Get Acrobat Reader

All of these publications are in PDF (Portable Document Format). To view them you will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader plug-in installed on your computer. The Reader can be downloaded at no cost from Adobe's site on the World Wide Web.

If you have difficulty accessing any material on this site because of a disability, please contact us in writing or via telephone and we will work with you to make the information available.

Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Section
202-324-5520