A privately sponsored and privately funded committee was organized to identify and propose means by which governments at all levels might rid themselves of needless and wasteful records while ensuring the preservation of that fraction of the documents deserving to be kept. The committee concentrated on problems and solutions within the federal government, but the principles underlying the conclusions and recommendations can be adopted by individual states and localities. This report of the committee includes an introduction and sections on: Development of Records Management; Records Management 1950-1984; Computer Generated Records; Special Characteristics of Electronic Records; Information Resource Management; and Importance of Leadership. Five major conclusions and three detailed recommendations complete the report. A draft of a proposed executive order is attached as well as a list of participants and additional interviewees. Appendices include overviews of the government records programs and conservation efforts, a technology assessment report of the National Archives and Records Service, and additional information, including significant related legislation and regulations; selected surveys and studies; elements of a comprehensive government records program; principles for state archival and records management agencies; National Archives and Records Service appraisal guidelines; and examples of federal government records schedules. An index is provided. (THC)