STAFF STUDY: INDEXING OF NON-CIA CABLES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP67-00896R000100130038-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Sequence Number: 38
• Content Type: MEMORANDUM FOR

Approved For Release 2006/11
6 September 1963
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, Document Division, Cit..
THROUGH
SUBJECT
: Chief, Analysis Branch
Staff Study: Indexing of Non-CIA, Cables
I. Problem. To determine a practicable system for indexing
noun cables for subject and area storage and retrieval.
IL Background. Non-CIA cables are filed by post and number for
a three month period by Cable Secretariat, and have never been
indexed for storage and retrieval. Individual files are maintained
by analysts throughout the Agency. Consequently, the indexing of
non-CIA cables was recommended as an aspect of the "All-Source"
program. (DD/I Notice 50-100-35 dated 24 May 1963)
III. Discussion
A. Non-CIA cables average about 600 per day. Because of the
perishable nature of much of their content, they should be processed
rapidly, but need to be stored only for a limited period.
B. A survey of one month's receipts of cables indicates that
only about 10-15% would be selected for intellofax indexing based
on the regular selection criteria. Intellofax would. also be a slow
and expensive method of indexing cables. However, most analysts
would probably like to have the few appropriate cables appear in
Intellofax runs.
C. The rapid processing of cables will require a system of
maximum simplicity. This could be achieved best by a manual
file, avoiding the complexities of processing steps required by a
machine system. The brief retention period required for cables
facilitates hard copy storage filed manually according to broad
subject indexing. It is estimated that with such a system the indexing
could be accomplished by the equivalent of one analyst supported
by one file clerk.
Approved For Release 2006/11/02 : CIA-RD P67-008 96R000100130038-8
 Approved For Release 2006/11/02 : CIA-RDP67-00896R000100130038-8
SE ET IMW
IV. Conclusions. Non-CLA cables should be indexed on a broad subject basis, filing the documents in hard copy by subject
within area. The files should be maintained in the CIA Libra
Those cables appropriate for intellofax indexing should be
ear-marked by the indexer for reproduction of a processing
copy. The filing of cables by Cable Secretariat would not be
affected by OCR's indexing, storage and retrieval activity.
Requests for cables by post and number would continue to be
directed to Cable Secretariat.
V. Recommendation. Non-CIA. cables should be indexed on the
basis of the attached procedure..
Chief, Indexing S
Attachment:
Procedure for the Indexing of Non- CIA Cables
n, AB/DD
Approved For Release 2006/11/02 : CIA-RDP67-00896R000100130038-8