Figure 3-12.—Example of a CRP Tickler Card.
with certain definitions regarding records. These
definitions are:
Government records — The Records
Disposal Act of 1943 defines records as: “books,
papers, maps, photographs, or other documen-
tary materials, regardless of physical form or
characteristics, made or received by any agency
of the United States Government in pursuance of
Federal law or in connection with the transaction
of public business and preserved or appropriated
for preservation by that agency or its legitimate
successor as evidence of the organization, func-
tions, policies, decisions, operations, or other ac-
tivities of the Government or because of the
informational value of the data contained
therein.”
Official correspondence — This term is
defined in Standard Organization and Regulations
of the U.S. Navy (OPNAVINST 3120.32) and is
considered to be all written material, documents,
publications, charts, and messages addressed to
or sent from a command.
Temporary records — These are records
which may be destroyed after they have served
their purpose. However, the specific retention
3-16
period guidelines outlined in SECNAVINST
5212.5 must be met before destruction may be
accomplished. NOTE: Approximately 95% of all
Department of the Navy records are of a
temporary nature.
Permanent records — These are records
which have been appraised as having a permanent
value according to the guidelines specified in SEC-
NAVINST 5212. 5. These records are transferred
to a Federal Records Center or to the National
Archives when a command no longer needs them.
Nonrecord material — This is material
which serves no documentary or record purpose.
It includes rough drafts, extra copies of letters
used for cross-reference and tickler files, commer-
cial catalogs and journals, and stencils.
GOVERNING AUTHORITY
FOR DISPOSAL
The National Archives which is an integral
part of the General Services Administration grants
the authority for destruction of Government
records which are of no future value. In addition,
Article 1115 of Navy Regulations states: “No per-
son, without proper authority, shall withdraw
