</s>Assassination Records Review Board Final Determination Notification AGENCY HSCA RECORD NUMBER : 180-10070-10164 RECORD SERIES : STAFF PAYROLL RECORDS AGENCY FILE NUMBER: December 8, 1995 Status of Document: Postponed in Part Number of releases of previously postponed information: 18 Reason for Board Action: The Review Board's decision was premised on several factors including: (a) the significant historical interest in the document in question; (b) the absence of evidence that the release of the information would cause harm to the United States or to any individual. Number of Postponements: 8 Postponments: All the postponents in this document represent Social Security numbers. Reason forBoard Action: This text is redacted because the public disclosure of the redaction could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, and that invasion of privacy would be substantial that it outweighs the public interest. Substitute Language: SSN Date of Next Review: 2017 Board Review Completed: 10/24/95 Released under the John-1 Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 992 (44 USC 2107 Note). NWW-NV 83526 Date: NWW 88326 Dodc:32244106 Page 1

Summary  
The documents detail Joan Talbert Thornell’s employment history with the Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) and related administrative records, including payroll authorization forms, leave policy disputes, and social security number redactions. She was employed as a Special Assistant to the Treasurer-Designate from November 8, 1976, until her termination in May 1977. Disputes arose over accrued leave days, weekend day counting for pay dates, and formal leave policies. The HSCA’s records reference multiple instances of Social Security numbers redacted as [SSN REDACTED]. Additional documents include payroll records from 1976–1977, a January 1977 memorandum requiring staff to disclose familial relationships with members of Congress (which Thornell did not have), and her professional resume highlighting roles in civil rights advocacy, political organizing, and administrative work. These materials also reference her involvement with the National Urban Coalition, Peace Corps, and the White House Conference on Civil Rights.  

Key People  
- **Joan Talbert Thornell**: Employed by the HSCA as a Special Assistant; listed in payroll records, professional resumes, and correspondence.  
- **Louis Stokes**: Chairman of the HSCA and later the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations; involved in administrative decisions regarding her termination.  
- **Thomas Howarth**: Budget Officer for the HSCA, responsible for leave policy calculations and payroll decisions.  
- **Alvin B. Lewis, Jr.**: Acting Chief Counsel of the HSCA, referenced in discussions about leave accruals and termination dates.  
- **Henry B. Gonzalez**: Authorizing official for her 1976–1977 payroll appointment.  
- **Thomas N. Downing**: Authorizing official for an earlier payroll record.  
- **Walter N. Rothschild, Jr.**: Chairman of the National Urban Coalition, referenced in Thornell’s resume.  
- **Charles C. Diggs, Jr.**: Congressman whose office she consulted for.  
- **R. Sargent Shriver, Jr.**: Peace Corps and Kennedy campaign associate, mentioned in her professional history.  
- **Hon. Walter B. Fauntroy**: Platform Committee Chairman of the National Black Political Convention.  
- **Burke Marshall**: Chairman of the National Advisory Commission on Selective Service.  

Key Locations  
- **Washington, D.C.**: Headquarters for the HSCA, U.S. House of Representatives, and related administrative offices.  
- **New Haven, Connecticut**: Mentioned as a site of volunteer work and community organizing.  
- **Berkeley, California**: Reference to staff coordination with Hon. D’Army Bailey and Ira Simmons.  
- **Gary, Indiana**: Site of early political organizing and civil rights activities.  

Key Events  
- **Employment Period (1976–1977)**: Thornell was hired as a Special Assistant to the Treasurer-Designate under H. Res. 1557 of the 94th Congress, with salary adjustments noted in payroll records.  
- **Leave Policy Disputes**: The HSCA lacked a formal leave policy at termination, leading to conflicts over accrued leave days and weekend day counting for final pay dates.  
- **January 1977 Payroll Certification**: Mandated staff disclosure of familial relationships with current members of Congress; Thornell’s form indicated no ties.  
- **SCA Involvement (1972–1975)**: Her role as a consultant included coordination of task forces and administrative duties for the Select Committee on Assassinations.  
- **National Black Political Convention (1968)**: Coordination of platform committees and staff director responsibilities.  
- **White House Conference on Civil Rights (1965)**: Administrative support for the event.  

Key Organizations  
- **Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA)**: Administered payroll and leave policies for its staff; part of the U.S. House of Representatives.  
- **National Urban Coalition**: Mentioned in Thornell’s professional history and correspondence.  
- **Peace Corps**: Reference to her work as a dance therapist and administrative assistant.  
- **Office of Economic Opportunity**: Linked to her role with the National Advisory Commission on Selective Service.  
- **National Black Political Convention, Inc.**: Organized by Thornell in 1968; involved in civil rights advocacy.  
- **Harvard-Yale-Columbia Intensive Summer Studies Program**: Educational initiative she helped develop.  
- **St. Elizabeths Hospital**: Professional training in dance therapy (1958–1962).  

Note: The document includes "579-54-1505," which may represent a social security number and has been redacted as [SSN REDACTED].

JFK Declassified Files

180-10070-10164.pdf

Document Summary

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