MY DEAR SIR:

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP54-00177A000200060017-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 24, 2000
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: September 2, 1947
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For ReleaS,&2002/
177A0002Q0060017-p~
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of the Secretary
Board on Geographical Names
Washington 25, D.C.
Central Intelligence Group
Washington 25, D. C.
September 2, 1947
Attention: Mr.
Bu dine
Room-7717
+1y dear Sir:
In reply to your request for information on the cost to complete name
woric on specific J'iN'NIS studies we submit the following information.
The attached table indicates the JA'IS editing work underway at pre-
sent, with estimates of money costs to completion and brief descriptions of
the status of work. ;fie will be clad to supply additional information where
necessary,
Phis office has oarsicipated in the J VIS work since its inception, and
it is believed that examination will show that the correlation of geographic
names throughout the studies and the compilation of gazetteers for each area
considerably increased the effectiveness of these studies. These facts may be
corroborated by officers of the Joint Board,
The problem of names in these joint studies was critical because of the
submission by a variety of intelligence agencies of material based upon a
heterogeneous collection of source materials. The names produced by such ma-
terials varied greatly, and it was possible to efficiently correlate places
and names only through a central office and authority.
The methods used in the editing process were as'follows:
1. A base map was selected, the names for which were supplied by this
office. This map was then used as a base for general reference by the various
contributors. It did not, however, supply more than a small number of the names
required since it was impossible to anticipate in advance which names would be
used,
2. A carbon copy of the text for each chapter was supplied and the geo-
graphic names appearing therein were edited by this office. All maps, photo-
graph captions and other materials containing geographic names were also edited.
In certain cases it was found helpful to edit name lists such as lists of health
or communication facilities in advance of submission of manuscript.
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 Approved For Releaq&2002/0 . I2QQ060017-8
It ha3 been proven conclusively during the several years experience
with the work that the only practicable and most satisfactory methods of
name editing was by submission of the whole manuscript. Questions of appli-
cation of name, the selection of name, and identification of" names in many
cases were apparent only from the context. The Board has taken some pride
in the fact that many textual errors other than names were discovered in the
process of editing.
3, A card file of geographic names with variants, locational informa-
tion, etc. was gradually accumulated for each study and with the completion
of the editing, formed the base material from which the gazetteer for each
study was compiled.
Exact estimates of total costs of uncompleted portions of any one study
are difficult in view of the variation of size of physical area covered by the
individual studies; variation of source materials and ease of use (Chinese
characters, etc.); nature or completeness of submitted materials, deadline
considerations, etc. We feel, however, that the estimates given represent a
reasonably exact cost of adequate research and handling.
Sincerely yours,
/s/ Meredith F. Burrill
r_eredith F. Burrill
Director
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