Dennis Pluchinsky collection on terrorism and counterterrorism

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. Staff have taken special care to identify and remove classified and privacy protected information (PPI) found within this collection. However, in rare instances, PPI may be revealed during use of this collection. Researchers agree to make no notes or other recordation of PPI if found within this collection, and further agree not to publish or disclose such information for any purpose. Researchers agree to alert Special Collections staff if potentially privacy protected information is found within this collection. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Dennis Pluchinsky Collection on Terrorism and Counterterrorism, 1956-2016, SC XXXX, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Summary

Extent:
xx cubic feet approximately 29 boxes, 1 flat file
Creator:
Pluchinsky, Dennis A. and Pluchinsky, Dennis A.
Abstract:
The collection comprises communiqués, unclassified government documents, serial publications, news articles, photographs, printed and three-dimensional ephemera, and the donor's scholarship related to global terrorism and counterterrorism. The materials in this collection were created and collected by Dennis Pluchinsky over the course of the career as a senior intelligence analyst and professor.
Language:
English , German , French , Spanish; Castilian , Greek, Modern (1453-) , Arabic , Italian , Armenian .
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Dennis Pluchinsky Collection on Terrorism and Counterterrorism, 1956-2016, SC XXXX, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection comprises communiqués, unclassified government documents, serial publications, news articles, photographs, printed and three-dimensional ephemera, and the donor's scholarship related to global terrorism and counterterrorism. The materials in this collection were created and collected by Dennis Pluchinsky over the course of the career as a senior intelligence analyst and university instructor.

The bulk of the collection, including Pluchinsky's teaching and scholarly work, documents the activities, ideological agendas, and belief systems of specific extremist groups, particularly European communist organizations, but also groups active in Asia, North America, South America, Africa, and the Middle East. Eco-terrorist groups are also included.

Biographical / historical:

Dennis A. Pluchinsky is a graduate of Madison College ('73) and George Washington University ('78) who spent the bulk of his career as a senior intelligence analysist. From 1977 to 2005, Pluchinsky worked in the Office of Intelligence and Threat Analysis, Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Department of State.

Starting in 1990, he taught undergraduate and graduate courses at several colleges and universities including George Washington University, George Mason University, Georgetown University, and James Madison University. His courses focused on terrorism, counterterrorism, ethnic conflict, and al-Qaeda and the global jihad movement.

In addition to writing multiple book chapters and articles, Pluchinsky co-wrote Europe's Red Terrorists: The Fighting Communist Organizations, co-edited European Terrorism: Today & Tomorrow, and wrote two volumes of Anti-American Terrorism: From Eisenhower to Trump — A Chronicle of the Threat and Response.

Due to the large and complex scope of organizations represented in this collection, neither a historical note on global terrorism generally nor information on specific groups is provided here. Researchers should consult collection materials or outside sources for historical information on specific organziations documented in this collection.

Acquisition information:
Donated to Special Collections in multiple accretions between 2015 and 2016.
Appraisal information:

Only select publications, printed materials, and other mass produced materials were retained. All media (VHS, DVD) were not retained.

A representative sample of objects and ephemera was retained.

Processing information:

Post-it notes and envelopes containing donor-supplied descriptive information were photocopied and foldered with the related papers and photographs. The contents of a USB drive, comprising 16 Word documents and one PowerPoint presentation, was printed and filed rather than retained digitally.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into three series:

  1. Extremist, separatist, and resistance organizations and movements, 1956-2014
  2. Teaching and scholarship
  3. Ephemera and objects
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard