LIST OF SELECTED HISTORICAL RECORDS IN O/DCI, 1953-56

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00161R000100140006-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 13, 2001
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: April 12, 1957
• Content Type: MFR

12 April 1957
\c(
Center before February-June 1956, when the schedules were approved
and filed. (The latter information will be forthcoming as soon as
the Records Center's own inventories of retired records, on file
in the Records Center, have been examined by the Historical Staff
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MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
SUBJECT: List of Selected Historical Records in O/D,PI, 1953-56
1. Among the 29 major groups or series of records in the
Director's Office for the period 1953-56, the following 27 have been
selected (from the records Management Staff's "Records Control
Schedule" for that office), as the ones most likely to contain
historical information of value for the projected CIA History for
the period 1953-56. The total bulk selected is 130 linear feet (the
equivalent of about 65 file drawers). The entries below, which
have been summarized from those schedules, indicate in each case
when (if at all) a given file will eventually be retired to the
CIA Records Center. (In one case such a file is already on deposit
there.) The series are listed numerically according to the "series"
number in the Schedule, The Schedules, which were prepared in 1956
by the Records Management Staff in cooperation with the Executive,
Registry and other offices, do not, however, indicate which other
files (if any) may already have been transferred to the Records
HS/FIC
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Records in the Executive Registry
(in custody of Admin. Bldg., as of June 1956)
1. "Director's Subject File," 1946-56. 27.5 linear feet.
Correspondence and other papers, arranged chiefly as follows: (g)
files on each office or other major component of CIA, about 8,5 feet;
(b) files on each major agency in the national security organization,
such as White House, N3C, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and IAC member
agencies; about 8 feet; (c) files on individuals, about 7.5 feet;
and (d) "general subject file," about 3.5 feet. Entire file regarded
as "permanent" records, scheduled to be transferred to Records Center
"when no longer needed for reference purposes."
2. "Senior Representatives Correspondence," 1951-56, 6 linear
feet. Deals with DCA's relations with his SR's and other chiefs of
stations overseas, presumably both those of DD/P interest and those
of DD/I and DD/S interest. Organized into two major files, both of
them as "permanent" records which are to be transferred to Records
Center "when no longer needed for reference purposes": (a) "Station
Correspondence," arranged by station, containing "letters of instruc-
tion, directives actions, and correspondence" of DCI with SR's,
"sent through channels" (2 feet); and (b) "Monthly Letters"
to the DCI from SR s and chiefs of stations, comprising progress
reports from the field on activities in each station (also filed
by station), 1i feet in bulk.
3. "Speech File," undated. 3 feet. Copies of speeches (by
DCI alone? those of his key assistants as well?) delivered'tbefore
groups and organizations on various occasions," including in each
case a "record copy" (to be retired to the Records Center in "annual"
blocks), and. extra copies for reference and distribution, (No mention
is made of any corresponding speech-related files and correspondence
in Colonel Grogan's office.)
4. "National Security File," 1948-56. 22 linear feet, Organized
into three major files (below), of which the first two are "permanent"
records, kept in Executive Registry "indefinitely" (no mention of
Records Center in this case), and the third a "temporary" file trans-
ferred to Records Center in annual blocks, when one year old. Files
are as follows: (a) CIA's "record copies" of NSC files accumulated
by DCI in his capacity as "Intelligence Adviser to the NSC," including
tfinal NSC reports, directives for carrying out policies of NSC pro-
grams, progress reports, and amendments to those reports" filed by
"report number" (presumably NSC's numerical system); (b) "Records
of Action," 1948-56, containing ". . . minutes, agenda, status of
projects, and records of actions of the Council meetings (3 feet);
and (c) "Index to NSC File," 1955-56 (only), comprising a ". . .
cumulative index to NSC papers and reports on status of projects,"
filed "chronologically" (meaning of latter not clear).
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5. "National Security Council Planning Board File," undated.
1 linear foot. Consists of it. . .minutes of Planning Board meetings,
agenda for Council meetings, reports on status of projects, and
other records of meetings." Filed "chronologically." Kept as
"permanent" records, "indefinitely-" in Executive Registry.
6. "Daily Diaries," 1951-54 (only), 2.8 linear feet. Contains
.chronologies of daily visitors or calls to the :director," includ-
ing "excerpts of the conversations and Lsumntaries of anpr decisions
arrived at." This file was apparently retired to the Records Center
sometime later in 1956, according to a pencilled note on the schedule.
Whether similar diaries exist for 1955 or 1956 is not indicated;
perhaps they are filed in the Director's immediate office, although
there is no records control schedule for the Director's immediate
office.
7. "Intelligence Estimates Files," 1951-55. 9.It linear feet.
Copies of NIE's and SE's, arranged numerically. Regarded as a
"temporary" file, to be destroyed "when no longer needed for reference
purposes." (For other sets of NIE's and SE's, as well as related
papers, see schedules for O/DDI and of ONE, listed in other Historical
Staff memoranda.) Some related correspondence on Intelligence Esti-
mates is also contained in the DCI's "Subject File," listed above
(see series 1 above).
8. "Project ffeview
7 Committee Files," 1951-55. 2 linear feet.
Contains copies of "approvals, project outlines, justifications,
authority for expenditure of funds, and other papers" on projects
that exceed $25,000. Filed according to "project name." This is
a "temporary" file, to be sent to Records Center in annual blocks
when one year old, and destroyed when five years old. The so-called
"official" copies of these records are meanwhile held, presumably
as "permanent" records, in the PRC secretariat (location not indi-
cated; presumably somewhere in DD/S, but the schedule has not yet
been seen).
9. "Intelligence Advisory Committee File," 1953-55 (only).
1.6 linear feet. Contains copies of IAC documents, including "agenda,
minutes of meetings, directives, and other papers." (This is a
"temporary" file to be destroyed "when no longer needed for reference
purposes.," The so-called "record copies" are meanwhile kept in the
IAC secretariat, in ONE.
10. "Operations Coordinating Board File," 1953-56. 1.6 linear
feet. Consists of the Director's copies of "OCB status reports,"
filed "by subject or program title." 'his is a "temporary" file
that is to be destroyed "when no longer needed." The "official"
copies of these and other OCB records are kept by the SA/DCI
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(Mr. Bissell's office?), "who serves as Agency representative on
the Board." (The latter's records are not listed, however, in the
Management Staff's records schedule for the O/DCI.) For still
other OCB-related records, see office of separately 25X1A
described later, below.
U. "Special Reports File," undated. 2 linear feet. Consists
of "extra" copies of such reports as Hoover Commission reports,
"Jackson Committee Report" (meaning not clear), "Jackson-British
Report" (meaning?), "Eberstadt Committee Report" (1945 or 1948
survey? meaning not clear). A 't temporary" file to be destroyed "when
no longer needed for reference purposes."
14. "Locator Card Files," 1951-56. 9 linear feet, in the form
of 3 x 5 cards. Constitutes an index to the Director's subject file
(see series 1 above), an index to an unidentified "catalog" (?),
and an index to other records in the Executive Registry; specifically
it serves as "a cross reference to the mail logs" (probably series
13) and "to the various ether files maintained by the Registry."
Serves also as an ttaddress locator.'" This card file is regarded
as a "temporary" file, to be destroyed "when obsolete or no longer
needed for reference purposes." (Apparently the Records Management
Staff has approved the decision to destroy this index!)
15. "Discontinued. Programs and Committee Files,'" undated. 4
linear feet. Consists of "accumulations of the correspondence and
other documents which remain when programs or committees have been
discontinued,"t along with "the inactive files of members of the
Director's staff who are no longer active in such capacity." Although
in this instance the Executive Registry is designated as the archival
agent or "records center," so to speak, for other offices in 0/DCI,
the Executive Registry apparently follows the somewhat anti-archival
practice of inter-filing these records, item by item, into the
Director's main subject files, rather than keeping intact (at least
in significant cases) the records of a given project or office
filed according to a subject classification meaningful for a particular
project. In this process, the Executive Registry also screens out and
destroys duplicates, so the schedule indicates.
neral's Records
(in the custody of Owl" as of June 44, 1966, date of schedule)
1. "IG Subject File," 1951-56. 2 linear feet. Files pertain
to those IG functions that are outlined in Reg. 1-110. Arranged by
"subject or area." These are "permanent" records that are to be
retired to the Records Center "when 5 years old." (The date "1951"
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actually precedes the official establishment of the IG in 1952;
this point in particular may be worth exploring sometime to improve
Historical Staff sub-chapter on 1G, in Chapter X of the 1950-53
history.--14. P. C.)
2. "Survey Reports," 1953-56. 1.8 linear feet. This series
contains "reports furnished to the Director on inspections conducted
throughout the Agency relating to the proper assignment of Agency
functions and missions and the methods and procedures of such per-
formances by the components of the Agency." These files are
expected to be retired to the Records Center, when a given "inactive
project" is 5 years old.
3. "Individual Case Files," 1953-56. 1.5 linear feet. These
files deal with individual complaints, suggestions, or problems
"which are brought or referred to the Inspector General for investi-
gation." Files are arranged "numerically, " with cross references
to personal names. This is a "temporary" file, to be destroyed
"when no longer needed for reference purposes."
44. "jxternai7 Committee Reports," 1953-56. 1.2 linear feet.
Papers relating to "external" committee reports, including investi-
gations and studies of CIA or of U. S. intelligence generally.
Committees include Doolittle Committee in particular. This is a
"permanent" file, to be retired to the Records Center "when 5 years
old."
Records of the Office of Legislative Liaison
now a section of t~s office
(records in custody of as of June 1, 1956, schedule)
5. OLL's "Subject Mile," 194.6-56. 7 linear feet. Contains
correspondence; Senate and House reports, bills, resolutions; and
other papers relating to legislation affecting CIA. Also, correspond-
ence with individual Congressmen and others with respect to "indi-
viduals sponsored by Congressmen, suggestions for Agency intelligence
coverage, and other liaison activities with members of Congress.'
File is arranged by subject and by name of Congressman. This is a
"permanent" file, to be retired in annual blocks, when 2 years old,
to the Records Center.
6. "Congressional Committee File," 1917-56. 4 linear feet.
Case files of correspondence, reports, Senate and House debates,
hearings, testimony, etc., on bills and legislative programs affect-
ing CIA or of interest to CIA; together with requests from Congress
(and related papers) for CIA intelligence reports. Arranged by name
of Commmittee. This is a "permanent" file kept in OLL "indefinitely."
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7. "Legislation File," undated. 6 linear feet. This filet
which probably is directly related to files 5 and 6 above (but the
relationship is not clear), contains House and Senate bills, reso-
lutions, reports, and related correspondence and reports, assembled
for "ready reference to new and proposed legislation of interest
to the Agency." This is a "permanent's file which is to be retired
to the Records Center at the end of each biennial Congress.
8. "Convenience File (Reading)," 1954-56. 1.4 linear feet.
This is a "chrono file" of carbons of outgoing correspondence and
memoranda, and is scheduled to be destroyed (presumably in annual
blocks), when it is 2 years old. (This directive to destroy is
apparently applied Agency-wide by the Management Staff, ostensibly
as a routine space-saving idea, even though in sheer bulk the volume
of chrono files among the key offices of CIA would probably extend
to less than a file cabinet. This standard might well be challenged
by the Historical Staff, from the historical viewpoint.--M, P. C.)
9, "Journal or Diary File.." 1954-56. 2.6 linear feet. This
may be a card file (though not so identified), judging from the
fact that the Historical Staff has used such a file last year. It
is described as a "summary of daily events, conversations, and
activities" of OLL, chronologically arranged. It is scheduled to
be retired to the Records Center when it is 2 years old (presumably
in annual blocks),
10, "Applicant Card File," undated. 4 linear feet., in the
form of 5 x 8 cards. Record of "all applicants for CIA employment"
who have been"sponsored by a member of Congress." Used as a
"tickler file." Arranged alphabetically by personal name (applicant
or Congressman?),
I
Records of Psychological Strate Board
(records be on_ing to the DCI, but "previously
maintained by the Information Coordination Division. Pig/DDP, ext. 3381,1"
according to the records control schedule for 0/DCI, June 1956)
1. "Records of PSB." Date coverage, arrangement, and volume
not indicated. (This may be the same file, of a drawer or two in
bulk, that was once housed, in 1954, in the Executive Registry, and
which pointed out to me at that time as a "historically
significant" file that the Historical Staff might sometime wish to
examine.-4-1. P. C.) The PSB is identified as "predecessor to LOCB,"
in the records control schedule. (PSB was liquidated sometime in
the summer of 1953 or thereabouts, after the report of William H.
Jackson, chairman of the President's Committee on International Infor-
mation Activities,--14. P. C.)
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Records of Operations Coordinating Board
(these records, listed in the records control schedule for March 1?_,
1956, were then in the custody of Board Assistant and 25X1A
DCI Representative on the Board, and his assistant, 25X1A.
at 2032 K Street, N. W.)
1. "Substantive and Working Papers," 1953-56. 2 linear feet.
This series contains "records of meetings, status reports, and
correspondence and other papers on such subjects as OCB organization,
Free World Press, Communist Disaster Aid for Europe and Middle Asia,
Committee on Broadcasting, and TV, Overseas Education Program" (sic;
punctuation as is; meaning not clear). It is arranged "chronologically"
and "by subject."
2. "0CB Working Papers on NSC Papers," 1953-56. 3 linear feet.
Contains status reports, recommendations, progress reports, and memos
for record. Taken together, the file "reflects OCB's thinking on
NSC matters." Arranged "by NSC number."
3. "Briefing Material," 1953-56. 1 linear foot. This is
described as "briefing material. . . for - successor, ~'
and contains a chrono file, briefings for Mr. Dulles, extra copies
of OCB minutes, and OCB "luncheon memos by DCI." Arranged chrono-
logically. Regarded as a "permanent" file.
Other Offices in the O/DCI, 1953-56
Note by M. P. C.s The Records Management Staff, DD/S, has
on file no "records control schedules" for the following other offices
in O/DCI, so it appears on the basis of an examination of that. Staff's
schedules on April 12, 1957s (a) the Director's immediate office;
(b) Col. Grogan's office; (c) the offices of the other assistants,
special assistants, and consultants to the DCI; (d). the SA/PC office
for "planning and coordination" (Messrs. Bissell and Reber). The
records of these several offices, for the period 1953-56, presumably
will need to be separately surveyed or examined by the Historical
Staff directly, as its needs require it and as interviews with those
offices are involved. Meanwhile, the Executive Registry regards
itself as the temporary records center (so to speak) for the housing
of records of "discontinued" projects of these several staff assis-
tants, including those who are separated from duty with the O/DCI.
(See schedules, previously quoted, above.) ' hether the Executive
Registry keeps such office files intact or interfiles them with'the
Director's central files (see its own series no. 1, above) is not
clear, from the schedules cited above. It could, in any case, be
highly significant and useful for certain aspects of the 1953-56
history for the Historical Staff to be able to consult such records
before they are weeded and dispersed by Registry personnel, who may
or may not be intimately familiar with the history of a given discon-
tinued office or project. Such records may have a unique arrangement
or completeness which would be vital to any historical searching, and
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