RECA Claims Resources

Patron RECA Form

Suggested Email Language When Directing Patron to Form

Make sure links work:

Dear [patron],

Thank you for contacting Special Collections and Archives at the University of Idaho. We have a collection of Idaho directories that we can look through to help with your supplemental proof of residence documentation for the RECA (“Downwinders”) application.

To help us answer RECA-related requests more efficiently, please submit your request using our online form: Request for Assistance with RECA Claim. This will ensure that we have all the information needed to begin our search.

Due to the volume of recent Downwinders requests, it may take two to three weeks to process your request. We appreciate your patience while we assist you. Please let us know if you have any questions about completing the form.

Researching a RECA Claim

RECA Responses Spreadsheet

Cover Letter Language

For a cover letter, Dulce needs this text. Please edit as needed to reflect collections used and/or multiple names searched:

To [claimant full name]:

Following the completion of your research inquiry with the University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives, page scans have been provided to you from the telephone directory [or city directory] for [town name] published in [date(s)]. The scans were made from original directories within the University of Idaho Library’s IDTELE collection. The documentation provided containing references to [person name] of [town name, Idaho,] are a true and accurate copy of a record kept in our files.

Example:

To John Smith:

Following the completion of your research inquiry with the University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives, page scans have been provided to you from the city directories for Boise, Idaho, published in 1956, 1957, and 1958. The scans were made from original directories within the University of Idaho Library’s IDTELE collection. The documentation provided containing references to Jane Smith of Boise, Idaho, are true and accurate copies of records kept in our files.

Suggested Email Language if You Can’t Find Anything

Make sure links work

Thank you for submitting your request for residence documentation for [Person Name] of [Place Name].

Unfortunately, we were unable to find listings for [Person Name] in our [Place Name] directories. If you have any other ideas about where [Person Name] might have lived in Idaho during the 1951-1962 period, or if there is a parent or other close relative of the person we can look for, please let me know.

If you have not done so already, I suggest contacting the Idaho State Archives (https://history.idaho.gov/archives/reca/), which has its own collections that may be helpful with residence documentation.

You might also consider checking out the Idaho Downwinders Support Group on Facebook. It is run by Tona Henderson, who knows far more about Downwinders cases than we do. Tona’s phone number is 208-365-2669 (I think she’s open to answering calls during normal business hours), and her email is tonahenderson@hotmail.com.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Outside Resources

Parking Information for Patrons Stock Certificate Guidance