BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE MAP DIVISION, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP54-00177A000100070003-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 1998
• Sequence Number: 3
• Content Type: STATEMENT

Approved For Release : CIA-RDP54-00177A000100070003-3
BH J` STAT 1 ENT OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE
DIVISION? DEPARTMENT OF STATE, TO THE UNITED STATES GO' NMEiT
The work of the Map Division of the Department of State is not
duplicated elsewhere in the United States Government.
The Cartography Branch is the only map-making unit of the Govern-
which specializes in the compilation and drafting of medium and
sal-scab maps of foreign areas which portray the locational and
distributional aspects of political, economic and social factors in-
fluencing our national security and foreign relations. Each map produced
is a unique construction problem and is tailor made to portray a
specific problem. During the past year 400 maps of this character
have been produced and have been used for intelligence reports,, for
partmental publications, for international conferences, and for brief-
ing the Secretary and other high officers in the United States Govern-
ment. Other agencies of the Government often call upon the Nap Division
when they require specialty maps of this type..
The Map Library Branch maintains a specialized working collection
of foreign published maps which relate to political, economic and social
facts in foreign countries. It also maintains a selected reference
collection of detailed maps for the study of territorial questions. A
staff highly trained in servicing intelligence agencies maintains this
collection. No other map library of the Government has a. specialized
working collection of this type. ( the contrary, the other map
libraries of the Government call upon the Map Library Branch when
requiring service in these fields. The Map Library Branch has primary
responsibility for coordinating requests of other Government agencies
for map procurement abroad and works in close collaboration with the
Library of Congress and the Army Map Service in directing and carrying
out a large number of map exchange agreements with mapping agencies of
foreign governments. Thousands of maps are distributed each month not
only to the Department but to other agencies of the Government and to
Foreign Service Posts.
The Map Intelligence Branch is the only unit of the United States .
ch carefully evaluates and reports on the quality,
age, availability and suitability of foreign political and economic
maps of use in studying questions relating to United States foreign
policy and national security. This Branch also reports upon the personnnel,
the activities and programs of foreign mapping organizations. Such
reports have been extremely useful not only to the Department but to
other agencies of the Government. The Branch is also responsible for
technical studies relating to the correct delimitation of,international
boundaries and to the status of territorial claims. a mapping agencies
umex t No.
((DECLA, ED
Class. CHANGE IS S C
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REG. 771176
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of the Government depend upon this unit to supply them with curren
information on the proper portrayal of international. and internal
boundaries.
These three Branches are closely intertwined in their operations
because of mutual interdependence The Map Intelligence Branch is
dependent upon the gap Library for the major part of its source material.
The Map Library is in turn dependent upon the Map Intelligence Branch
for the evaluation of information in its collection. The Cartography
Branch is dependent upon both the Map Intelligence Branch and the
Map Library Branch for base materials and for technical advice as to
propriety and completeness of compiled Information.
Approved For Release : CIA-RDP54-00177A000100070003-3