Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
The records of Pinkerton's National Detective Agency were given to the Library of Congress by Robert A. Pinkerton in 1956, Pinkerton's, Inc. in 2000, and Norman W. Merrill in 2015. The Library purchased additional material in 1972 and 2000. Additional material was transferred from the Prints and Photographs Division in 2019.
Processing History
Letterpress copybooks and miscellaneous reports were processed in 1975 by Michael McElderry. The remainder of the collection, which incorporates the initial gift of records, was processed in 2001 by Nan Thompson Ernst with the assistance of Edward T. Green, Sr., R. Michael McReynolds, Mary Mundy, Marjorie Torney, and Chanté Wilson. Material received in 2015 and 2019 was processed as an addition in 2020 by Laney Stevenson.
Transfers
Some photographs have been transferred to the Library's Prints and Photographs Division where they are identified as part of the Visual materials from the Pinkerton's National Detective Agency records. Patrons are encouraged to contact the Prints and Photographs Division in advance of a research visit.
Microfilm
A microfilm edition of the letterpress copybooks and miscellaneous reports processed in 1975 is available on three reels. Consult reference staff in the Manuscript Division concerning availability for purchase and interlibrary loan. To promote preservation of the originals, researchers are required to consult the microfilm edition.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Container number, Pinkerton's National Detective Agency Records, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.