HANDBOOK FOR THE WRITING OF DDI, DDS&T AND DOS HISTORIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP33-02415A000800340030-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 29
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 24, 2000
• Sequence Number: 30
• Publication Date: January 5, 1967
• Content Type: REPORT

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~`OR TIDE WRITING OF
I~DI,- EDS&T AND DD~1 HISTORIES
S E C R E T,.. ,
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HANDBOOK
FOR THE WRITING OF
DDI, DDS&T AND DDS HISTORIES
Prepared by: Historical Staff, O/DCI
5 January 1967
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3 January 196?
Page.
CHAPTER I - Introduction ... l
CHAPTER II - Organization and Procedures 3
CHAPTER III - Content and Treatment 7
CHAPTER IV - Style and Format 10
CHAPTER V - Sources 15
APPENDIX A - Outside Interviews 18
APPENDIX B - Reference Material
1. Reference Aids 20
2,. Dates of DCI's, DDCI's and DD's 21
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CHAPTER I. Introduction.
1. The Need for Histories
The need for a systematic record of the activities
and operations of CIA components has been recognized;
it is necessary for the orderly progression of future
planning. Historical programs in the Directorates for
Intelligence, Science and Technology, and Support* are
essential to place in true perspective the records of
their organizations, operations, activities, procedures,
successes, and failures; the concepts leading to the
formation of their various components, policy decisions
laid down for their guidance, -and the authorities and
agreerr~ents under which they have conducted their activi-
ties. Such a systematic record of the past, stressing
"lessons learned," is basic to enlightened planning for
the future.
2. The Uses
Historical papers will provide:
a. A documented record of previous programs,
activities, and experiences- (together with appropriate
*These will hereafter be referred to merely as "the
Directorates," excluding the Clandestine Services, which
has its own historical program.
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conclusions) as background for those engaged in
operational, organizational, and policy planning.
b. A helpful summary for the orientation of
new office, division, or branch chiefs and other
key officers.
c. A historical frame of reference for initi-
ating new activities and resolving difficult prob-
lems.
d. A source of background material as required
by senior Agency management.
e. An aid to training.
f. Contributions to "Studies in Intelligence."
S E C R E T
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CHAPTER II. Qrganization and Procedures
1. Organization
a, Historical Staff
The Historical Staff is part of the Office
of the Director of Central Intelligence. An Overt
Coordinator has been approved for this Staff to en-
courage and assist in historical programs for the
DDI, DDS&T, and DDS.
b. Historical Boards
Historical Boards have been established by
the three Directorates to set the terms of refer-
ence for the several historical, programs, determine
what histories are to be written, establish priori-
ties, and provide continuing guidance and review in
the preparation of hstories.-
e.. Hi torical Officers
Each major component of the three Director-
ates has designated a Historical Officer who will
be responsible for coordinating the historical pro-
gram within the component and will be the point of
contact for his Historical Board and the Coordinator.
The cooperation of all senior staff and
operating personnel in the historical programs should
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be encouraged. Although perhaps not participating
directly, they should give all possible assistance
to the hi:storic;al effort.
2. Procedures
a. The historical programs of the Director-
ates will include a`number of different types of
(:1) A fairly lengthy chronological narra-
tive histo~?y of each component .
(2) Monographs or historical studies
dealing with special activities or operations.
These are :suggested as separate papers so that
the logical flow of the narrative will not be
interrupted by lengthy dissertations an specific
and often ixnusual activities.
b. In genE~ral i.t would be impractical to ask
staff officers to write lengthy narrative histories
of major compo~ients in addition to their other
duties. It is therefore suggested that:
(l) Each major component in a Director-
ate should identify capable staff employees who
intend to retire within six to twelve months.
In many cases such staff employees can be re-
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lieved of regular duties and assigned to
writing historical papers.
(2) To supplement, when necessary, the work
of prospective retirees, each major component
could contract with annuitants to write his-
torical papers. Whereas personnel ceilings are
tight, there may be sufficient funds for such
contracts if their number is held to a minimum.
c. Monographs or short historical studies could
well be assigned to personnel on duty who are inti-
mately acquainted with the subject, with the provision
that they write as time permits with no unreasonable
deadlines.
3, Review
Procedures should be established for the review of
each historical paper in draft form by one or more know-
ledgeable officers, In all cases a paper should be sub-
jest tQ a final review by the office director or his deputy.
4, Dissemination and Control
Each major component will determine the classifica-
tion of its own historical papers. When possible, classi-
fication should be no higher than secret.
One copy of each historical paper will be deposited
in the office of the appropriate Deputy Director and in-
5
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cauded in the catalog of .the Directorate's histories.
The master copy will be retained in the office of origin,
Arty further dissemination will be determined by the
office of origin. (It is suggested that a number of
copies of each papE~r be held in the office of origin to
mE~et any future need for additional dissemination,)
6
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1. Content
a. Some of the topics that should be included
in a historical paper are:
(1) Mission: How was-the initial mission
or function of a component determined? What
changes have there been over the years? Were
these changes due to experience, policy guidance,
changing world conditions, addition of new func-
tions? Under what authorities and agreements
was he initial mission assigned and what
authorities and agreements controlled later
change and redirection of effort?
(2) Organization: Original organization.
Changes in organizational structure; due to
experience, increased requirements, change in
scope of mission, or budgetary, manpower, or
a.,
space limitations?
(3) Relationships: with other Agency com-
ponents, USTB agencies, other Government depart-
ments and agencies, foreign governments, etc.
(4) Problems & Methods; Over the years,
what problems have arisen and what methods. have
been used to resole them? How was administration
7
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and management improved, or what new methods
were adopted to cope with broadening activi-
ties and increasing work load?
be Some of bhe elementary musts for any paper
are the following (to be included on the cover, in a
foreword, or i;n the body of the paper, as app:ropriate):
(7_) Title Page (include date of writing and
name and position of author).
(2) Table of Contents (subheadings within
chapters i:f it is a long and complex history)
(3) Introduction
(4) Body (if more than one operation,
ar,tivity o'r major grouping or trend of events,
treat in phases, parts or chapters)
(5) Constructive conclusions
(~6) Pertinent attachments;
(a) Chronology, if the paper covers
a:n. extended period.
(b) List of interviewed personnel and
other rief-
i.ngs for Congressional hearings, meetings of USIB com-
mittees, etc.
~~. Interviews and Debriefings
The historian usually begins by getting all he can
out; of document:ary records and then tries to get behind
t;he~ documents, as well as fill in between them, with
carefully chosen questions posed to knowledgeable persons.
Such interviews should be recorded and cited like other
documents. They historian of recent events can reverse
this procedure, getting the story from participants first
and. then .checking and supplementing it with documents, if
he has too little first-hand knowledge of the subject to
get started or i:f the people are more readily available
than the papers.
5. Preservation of Documents
a. To preserve source references, writers of
histories will be provided a stamp as follows for
documents cited in their papers:
THTS DOCUMENT IS
A SOURCE REFERENCE IN
A HISTORICAL PAPER
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(It is recommended that at the time this stamp is
placed on a document, the writer also indicate the
title of the paper being written,)
b. Each Directorate should institute a further
comprehensive program for the preservation in the
suture of documents.. of historical value. As .each
such document is identified, it should be stamped:
HISTORICAL DQCUMENT
Destroy only with consent
of the Historical Officer.
Name:
Date:
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1, INSTRUCTIONS REGARDTNG OUTSIDE INTERVIEWS ZN SUPPORT
OF HISTORICAL PAPERS
a. Normally it is anticipated that an indivi-
dual responsible for preparing a historical paper
will acquire the necessary information from exist-
ing documentation, both current and retired, from
interviewing personnel presently on duty, and from
the writer's own experiences relating to the subject
at hand.
b. There may, however, be gaps in information
from these sources which the writer must fill by
questioning at length one or more outside individuals
who were earlier connected with the Agency in some
capacity. Contacts with such persons will be made
only when their contribution is essential.
c. Prior to approaching such a person, the
writer will take the following steps:
(1) He will submit the name of the indivi-
dual and, if known, his address to the security
officer of the component having jurisdiction over
the paper being prepared. The security officer
will forward this data to the Deputy Director
of Security for Personnel Security for examina-
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tion .as to security implications and approval for
approaching the individual.
(2) ~~fter receiving clearance for-making
the c~antact, the writer, if he does not person-
ally :know the individual to be approached, can
submit his name and address to the Domestic Con-
tact service. The Service will make an appropri-
ate introduction and establish the bona fides of
the writer. (In many cases, this will not be
necessary.)
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1. REFERENCE TOOLS AVAILABLE IN THE HISTORICAL STAFF
The following is a list and brief description of
aids being compiled in the Historical Staff by the CS
Group that may be helpful to the writer of histories in
other Directorates.
a;:' Knowledgeable Persons Finder
An alphabetical card index of persons known
to have a detailed knowledge of CS operations or
functions (on either an area or a functional hasis)
and their specialty, and a subject index of organi-
zations, functions, and projects listing knowledge-
able persons by name.
b. Index to Source Documents
A cross index of abstract cards of existing
documents known to have historical significance.
These would include directives, regulatory issuances,
functional statements, organization charts, cables,
memoranda, dispatches, tabulations, graphs, books,
and maps. This material may be written, printed,
taped, or photographed. This index is arranged by
country, area, unit, and function.
c. Catalog of CS Histories
A card index, by area and function, of
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APPENDIX B
completed historical studies. These papers may be
quite broad in their coverage of a division, branch,'
country, or general function, or may be devoted to
a specific operation. This index includes summary
notations with controls, location, and availability.
d. Chronology
A c;a.rd index of CS organizational events
maintained by date and supplemented by charts. re-
flecting approved reorganizations.
e. Historical Staff Papers (not purely CS)
Numerous and varied historical studies and
histories of parts of the Agency and predecessor
organizations.
2. DATES OF DCI'S, DDCI'S, AND DEPUTY DIRECTORS
a. Directors of Central Intelligence
Rear. Admiral Sidney W. Souers, USNR
23 January 1946 -- 7 June 1946
Lieutenant General Hoyt Sanford Vandenberg, USA
IO June 1946 - 1 May 1947
Rear Admiral Roscoe Henry Hillenkoetter, USN
1 May 1947 ?- 7 October 1950
Lieutenant General (later General) Walter Bedell Smith, USA
7 October 1950 - 9 February 1953
Mr. ~9.llen Welsh Dulles
26 February 1953 - 29 November 1961
S E C R E T
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Mr. John Alex McCone
29 November 1961 - 28 April 1965
Vice Admiral William Francis Raborn, Jr., USN (Ret.)
28 April 1965 - 30 June 1966
Mr, Richard McGarrah Helms
20 June 1966 -
b. Deputy Directors of Central Intelligence
Mr. Kingman Douglass
1 February 1946 - 11 July 1946
Brigadier General (later Major General) Edwin Kennedy Wright,
USA
July 1946 - 10 March 1949
Mr. William Harding Jackson
2 October 1950 - 3 August 1951
Mr. Allen Welsh Dulles
23 August 1951 - 26 February 1953
(also served as Deputy Director (Plans)
4 January 1951 - 23 August-1951)
Lieutenant General (later General) Charles Pearre Cabell,
USAF
23 April 1953 - 31 January 1962
Lieutenant General Marshall Sylvester Carter, USA
3 April 1962 - 28 April :1965
Mr. Richard McGarrah Helms
28 April 1965 - 30 June 1966
(also served as Deputy Director for Plans)
17 February 1962 - 28 April 1965)
Vice Admiral Rufus L. Taylor, USN
13 October 1966 -
23
S E C R E T
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c. lleputy Directors
Deputy Director (Ac~min:istration) (DD/A)
(established 1 December 1950)
Murray McConnel
1 December 19,50 - 31 March 1951
~Nlalter R. Wolf
1 April 1951 ?- 30 June 1953
:C,awrence K. White
1 July 1953 - 3 February 1955
Deputy Director f+ax? Intelligence (DDI )
(established '~ January 1952)
7C,oftus E. Becker
1 January 1952 - 23 February 1953
Robert Amory, Jr.
23 Febru.x,ry 1953 - 30 March 1962
~iuntington Sheldon (Acting)
30 March 1962 - 23 April 1962
Ray S. Cline
23 April 1.962 - 17 January 1966
ft. Jack Smith
17 January 19E~6 -
:Deputy Director :for Operations (DD/0)
(established 1. December 1950)
Allen W. Du11es
1 December 1950 - 4 January 1951
?Deputy Director fo:r Plans (DDP)
(established 9: January 1951)
+llen W. Dulles
4 January 1951 - 23 August 1951
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Frank G. Wisner
23 August 1951 - 1 January 1959
Richard M. Bissell, Jr.
1 January- 1959 - 17 February 1962
Richard M. Helms
1? February 1962 - 28 April 1965
Desmond FitzGerald
28 April 1965-
Deputy Director for Research (DD/R)
(established 19 February 1962)
Herbert Scoville, Jr.
19 February 1962 - 15 June 1963
Colonel Edward B. Giller, USAF (A.cting)
15 June 1963 - 5 August 1963
Deputy Director .for Support (DDS)
(established 3 February 1955)
Lawrence K. White
3 February 1955 - 5 July 1965
Robert L. Bannerman
5 July 1965 -
Deputy Director for Science and Technology (DDS&T)
(established 5 August 1963)
Albert D. Wheelon
5 August 1963 - 26 September 1966
S E C R E T
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