Timeline of FBI History The Federal Bureau of Investigation Timeline covers major moments in the FBI History. For a more detailed look, read the articles in full below, or search for FBI Timeline in this archive.
1908 The passage of the Sundry Civil Service Bill leads to the formation of the Bureau of Investigation in June. Read Article Congress Trailing The Gum Shoe Sleuths Oakland Tribune, May 30, 1908 1910 Passage of the White Slave Traffic Act expands the Bureau of Investigation's jurisdiction to include interstate crime. Read Article (pictured on right) Nation Wide Crusade Against White Slave Traffic Has Begun The Mansfield News, October 1, 1910 1925 October 28 Martin Durkin, wanted for the murder of Agent Edward Shanahan, escapes arrest in Chicago. Read Article Steel-Vested Auto Thief Eludes Trap The Ironwood Daily Globe, October 29, 1925 1931 October 18 The investigation of Al Capone by Elliot Ness and the "Untouchables" culminates in the gangster's conviction. Read Article (pictured on right) Capone Guilty; Hearing Due Friday The Stevens Point Daily Journal, October 19, 1931 1933 September 25 George "Machine Gun" Kelly is apprehended by special agents in Memphis. Read Article (pictured on right) George Kelly Captured in Memphis The Lincoln Star, September 26, 1933 1934 May 23 An 18 month investigation by special agents ends with the deaths of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Read Article (pictured on right) Outlaws Feared Fate They Met The Hammond Times, May 24, 1934 July 22 John Dillinger is killed by special agents in Chicago. Read Article Dillinger Tapped and Slain... The Syracuse Herald, July 23, 1933 October 22 Charles "Pretty Boy" Floyd is gunned down by agents in Ohio. Read Article 'Pretty Boy' Floyd Shot to Death... Salamanca Republican-Press, October 23, 1933 1935 February 13 A two year FBI investigation culminates in the conviction of Bruno Hauptmann for the murder and kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby. Read Article (pictured on right) Hauptmann Convicted The Reno Evening Gazette, February 13, 1935 1942 August 7 Confessions obtained by the FBI lead to the execution of six German spies in Washington D.C. Read Article (pictured on right) Six Sabotuers Executed The Brainerd Daily Dispatch, August 8, 1942 1957 November 14 Rudolph Abel is convicted of espionage and sentenced to thirty years in prison. Read Article Col. Rudolph Abel Gets 30 Years... The Edwardsville Intelligencer, November 15, 1957 1963 June 22 FBI agents arrest Byron de la Beckwith for the assassination of civil rights activist Medgar Evers on June 12, 1963. Read Article Slaying Laid To Gun Fancier The Panama City Herald, June 24, 1963 1964 December 4 FBI agents arrest 21 men in connection with the slaying of three civil rights workers in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Read Article Mississippi Town Filled With Unrest And Questions The Daily Times-News, December 5, 1964 1968 April 4 The FBI opens a special investigation immediately following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Read Article (pictured on right) Martin Luther King Assassinated The Gleaner, April 5, 1968 1975 June 26 Two Special Agents are killed on the Pine Ridge Reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Read Article Death of FBI agents 'like execution' The Daily Tribune, June 27, 1975 1985 November 25 William Pelton's arrest is the fourth major espionage case in "the Year of the Spy". Read Article Suspect admits selling secrets The Daily Intelligencer, November 26, 1985 1988 December 21 The FBI works closely with US and foreign authorities after the explosion of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Read Article Jet crash: Sabotage, say experts The Chronicle Telegram, December 22, 1988 1993 February 26 The FBI launches an immediate investigation into the bombing of the World Trade Center. Read Article (pictured on right) FBI Suspects Massive Car Bomb in Blast beneath Trade Center The Post-Standard, February 27, 1993 1994 February 21 FBI Agents arrest Aldrich Ames, a CIA veteran of 30 years, on espionage charges. Read Article Former CIA agent charged with spying for Russia The Frederick Post, February 23, 1994 1995 April 19 The FBI is designated to lead the investigation into the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Read Article (pictured on right) Whoever did this was an animal The Daily Herald, April 20, 1995 2001 February 18 FBI Agent Robert Hanssen is arrested for espionage. Read Article FBI Agent Arrested On Espionage Charge Syracuse Herald Journal, February 20, 2001 September 11 The FBI immediately mobilizes 7,000 agents for the investigation into the terrorist attacks of September 11. Read Article 'America is forever changed' Syracuse Herald Journal, September 12, 2001 2002 October 24 Beltway Sniper suspects Lee Malvo & John Muhammad are arrested and charged with the murder of FBI analyst Linda Franklin. Read Article (pictured on right) How They Got Caught The Post-Standard, October 25, 2002 2005 July 4 The remains of kidnapped child Dylan Groene are found, ending a seven week search. Shasta, Dylan's sister, had been found one week earlier at a Denny's in their hometown of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Read Article FBI identifies remains of Dylan Groene... The Star Herald, July 12, 2005		Newspaper Articles (click to view readable full images) The Mansfield News October 1, 1910 The Stevens Point Daily Journal October 19, 1931 The Lincoln Star September 26, 1933 The Syracuse Herald July 23, 1933 The Reno Evening Gazette February 13, 1935 The Brainerd Daily Dispatch August 8, 1942 The Gleaner April 5, 1968 The Post-Standard February 27, 1993 The Daily Herald April 20, 1995 The Post-Standard October 25, 2002