Well, I requested to view my file from my former employer. I got performance evaluations, etc. But there weren't interview notes (which are forms managers fill out during the process), or my exit interview. Could these be kept somewhere else other than my personnel file?

My concern is that it's looking like I may have received a negative reference from my former employer (who I left on good terms with, btw), but by someone else in the company who didn't know me and would have had to dig for information about me (my former supervisor is gone).

There were some accusations I defended myself against about ten years ago. Apparently there was also an investigation opened about me regarding a "sexual harassment" which was unfounded (I asked someone if they carried mace and they got triggered). I wasn't even made aware of this in any official capacity. It was opened and closed before anybody told me. I only found out through coworkers who knew the "victim." But if there's anywhere, "sexual harassment" is recorded, that's disastrous