"Topical" files are those which are difficult to fit into other general categories. They are informational records, often found as "Vertical Files" in libraries, which provide background on a broad range of issues. Often when controversies arise, they are known by popularized nicknames, much in the way that "Watergate," "Whitewater," or "Teapot Dome" have become known in political circles. These names become the way the event is remembered. Opinion polls, book and encyclopedia extracts, movie and TV reviews, indices and catalogs, administrative organizational data, general investigative issues, and collectibles are among other kinds of topics falling under the topical file umbrella.

They are filed alphabetically, using what are judged to be the terms and titles most easily describing the contents. Not all of the terms will be familiar to everyone without a fair amount of explanation. Nevertheless, they all relate in some manner to UFOs or other peculiar phenomena that the researcher found to be of interest.

This listing will continue to be updated.

Barry Greenwood - August 23, 2000