History Vault

Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency Records [1853-1999]   (Module 46)

During its colorful 150-year history, Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency, the oldest company of private investigators in the United States – founded by Allan Pinkerton in the 1850s – pursued some of the nation’s most notorious criminals, like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Jesse James, Alfred Brady, John Dillinger and countless others. This fascinating collection, digitized in History Vault from the Library of Congress holdings, includes files on some of the Pinkerton’s most well-known cases. It offers exciting research opportunities in criminology, sociology, the history of law enforcement and labor relations.

• Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency, Part A: Administrative Files, 1857–1999
• Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency, Part B: Criminal Case File, Series 1: A–C
• Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency, Part B: Criminal Case File, Series 2: D–J
• Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency, Part B: Criminal Case File, Series 3: K—N
• Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency, Part B: Criminal Case File, Series 4: O—Y
• Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency, Part C: Family Directors File, 1853—1990