FBI Dir J. Edgar Hoover Signed Letter on Civilian Fingerprinting & Successor PSA

Title: 1966 Typed Letter Signed by J. Edgar Hoover Advocating Civilian Fingerprinting & Choosing his Successor — PSA Certified

Description:
Offered here is a Typed Letter Signed (TLS) by J. Edgar Hoover, legendary Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), dated May 18, 1966 and addressed to Mrs. Paul E. Dickinson of Delmar, New York. Written on official FBI letterhead bearing the seal of the Bureau and the heading “Office of the Director,” this letter reflects Hoover’s appreciation for citizen support and his strong advocacy for a national fingerprint identification initiative. Hoover's bold fountain pen signature appears at the close of the letter. The reverse features a PSA/DNA authentication sticker (#AP45820), affirming the authenticity of the autograph.

Full Transcription:

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20535
May 18, 1966

Mrs. Paul E. Dickinson
27 Partridge Road
Delmar, New York 12054

Dear Mrs. Dickinson:

I have received your letter of May 14th and want to thank you and your husband for the generous remarks concerning my administration of the FBI. It is hoped our future endeavors will continue to merit such approbation.

You may be assured it is my desire to remain in my present capacity as long as I can be of service to our Nation. While I will not be able to choose my successor, I believe in the policy of promoting men from within the service, and I can assure you there are several men within the ranks of the FBI who are fully qualified to direct its operations.

Although I strongly advocate that all citizens have identification fingerprints available, this Bureau does not have sufficient funds in its budget to cover the classifying and storing of civilian fingerprints on a mass basis. Therefore, I urge Americans to have their fingerprints taken and maintained locally in order that they will be available in the event they are ever needed for identification purposes.

Sincerely yours,
J. Edgar Hoover

Historical Context:
This 1966 letter offers a window into Hoover’s deeply held views on national security, FBI succession planning, and civilian identification infrastructure. At the time, Hoover had served as FBI Director for over 40 years and had become a symbol of domestic surveillance and law enforcement power. Here, he reiterates his commitment to staying in office and expresses confidence in promoting leadership from within the FBI’s own ranks—reflecting his preference for a tightly controlled internal hierarchy.

More notably, Hoover uses this letter to publicly endorse a controversial proposal: that all American citizens should have fingerprint records maintained for identification purposes. While he admits the FBI lacked sufficient federal funding to implement this on a national scale, he encourages Americans to have their fingerprints taken and stored locally. This was part of a broader Cold War-era security philosophy that emphasized readiness, documentation, and surveillance as means of protecting the nation from internal threats.

This viewpoint would later come under increasing scrutiny, as Hoover’s accumulation of dossiers and intelligence on American citizens and public figures raised major civil liberties concerns, particularly after his death in 1972.

Authentication & Encapsulation:
This letter includes a PSA/DNA certification sticker (#AP45820), verifying the authenticity of J. Edgar Hoover’s handwritten signature. While the letter is not encapsulated in a PSA slab, it remains in very good condition, with only light mailing folds and some toning from age. The ink signature remains bold and unmarred.

Closing Appeal:
This authentic 1966 letter showcases J. Edgar Hoover’s authoritative leadership style and his enduring campaign for widespread civilian fingerprinting. Backed by PSA certification, it is a powerful historical document for collectors of FBI memorabilia, Cold War domestic policy, or 20th-century political correspondence. As surveillance and personal privacy continue to be debated today, this letter serves as a striking reminder of Hoover’s vision and its lasting impact on American civil liberties.