HOOVER, John Edgar (1895-1872). Typed letter signed (“J. Edgar Hoover”), Washington, D.C., 9 April 1965. One-page, 8vo (267 x 203 mm), on official U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation letterhead, small spot of adhesive ghosting on verso. BOY SCOUTS, MERIT BADGES, AND FINGERPRINTING. Hoover corresponds with a Scoutmaster regarding information requested. “This Bureau accepts Personal Identification fingerprint cards from Scouts who are working toward attaining their Merit Badges in fingerprinting, and I will be glad to send such boys letters to notify them if cards they submit are legible and suitable for filing purposes in the civil section of our Identification Division”. As the first Director of the FBI, Hoover played a significant role in the development and advancement of fingerprinting techniques for law enforcement purposes. Under Hoover’s leadership, the FBI established the first national fingerprint database, known as the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). This system allowed law enforcement agencies across the country to share and compare fingerprint data, making it easier to identify individuals involved in criminal activities. Although fingerprinting had been used for identification purposes before Hoover’s tenure, the enhancement of its effectiveness and standardization on a national level were directly due to Hoover recognizing its importance as a reliable method to solving crimes.