http://www.fbi.gov/page2/page2.htm Anonymous Letters The Anonymous Letter File (ALF) is an image-oriented database housed in the Questioned Documents Unit of the FBI Laboratory. The repository houses letters from anonymous sources, categorizing entries based on target (recipient of letter), method of preparation, and content. Established in the 1930s, the original ALF was a unique and useful resource for law enforcement. Originally, index card-sized sections of a note's text was from a photograph of the original anonymous letter and entered to the database with the written portion of its envelope. The entry was filed based on its geographic origin (determined by the post mark), nature (hate or demand note) and the method of communication (hand-written, typed, etc.). During a search, when a Laboratory Technician detected similarities between two or more entries, the available content of those notes would be further examined (remember, only an index card-sized portion was initially used). If an association still appeared likely, an Examiner would then conduct a more thorough comparison including an examination of handwriting characteristics. In the early 1980s, the database was upgraded to include video-camera-captured images of letters. The images were stored on disk and the text of the entire letter was retyped for comparison. The new system also enabled special attention to be given to vocabulary, spelling habits, and the topic that a letter addressed. Even with this more advanced system, a Questioned Documents Examiner still studied the hand writing or printing methods of the associated letters looking for a stronger connection. The Laboratory's current ALF system, updated in the 1990s, is even more advanced. Instead of capturing an image of a letter by video camera, images are scanned onto a computer hard drive with back-ups made on compact discs. Comparison is then conducted based on target, method of preparation, and content. The associations that result from ALF searches can prove invaluable in FBI and other law enforcement investigations. Frequent topics of anonymous letters include bomb threats, environmental concerns, abortion politics, and gun control.