Growing collection of federal databases

NICAR maintains a comprehensive collection of federal government databases covering elections, aviation, finance, crime, and other sectors available to journalists for investigative reporting. The organization offers data transfer services and continuously updates its growing library of federal and state databases.

From the NICAR library

NICAR offers a number of federal government databases. Here is a list of our growing collection:

Federal Election Commission contributions data, including donations by individuals and political action committees. Federal Aviation Administration data, including airplane maintenance work documented in the service difficulty report, pilot licenses and grades, and aircraft registration. Home Mortgage Disclosure Act records, for tracking who gets loans and who gets turned down, and finding redlining patterns. Federal procurement data, 1992-1994, includes breakdowns by agency. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms gun dealer records. National Bridge Inventory System data, includes inspection grades. FBI Uniform Crime Reports, a detailed compilation of crime data that includes statistical breakdowns of individual murders. Social Security death records, by name and social security number, going back to 1937. Occupational Safety and Health Administration violation data includes worker accidents and exposures to hazardous chemicals by companies. U.S. Department of Transportation truck accident and census data. It includes accidents by company and road. U.S. Small Business Administration loan guarantees, 1989-1994. This includes the name of the business, address, amount covered by the SBA, and status, including whether the loan went bad. U.S. Small Business Administration disaster loan guarantees, 1989-1994. This includes individuals and businesses, the amount covered by the SBA, and the status, including whether the loan went bad. U.S. Small Business Administration's list of minority companies certified for SBA assistance in seeking federal contracts. It includes the name of the company, its address, the owner, type of business and phone number. U.S. Department of Education's Common Core of Data runs from the 1987-1988 to the 1992-1993 school year. It includes data on school enrollments, finances, staffing and dropouts. U.S. Coast Guard directory of U.S. merchant vessels. It includes the name of the ship, the managing owner, home port and various descriptive information.

NICAR also offers inexpensive data transfer for journalists, and houses an expanding library of state databases. NICAR is also constantly updating data.

For up-to-date prices and more information, call (314) 882-0684, or send e-mail to nicar@muccmail.missouri.edu.