HISTORY OF MACHINE RECORDS BRANCH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP54-00177A000100160019-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 1, 1998
• Sequence Number: 19
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release : CIA-RDP54-00177A000100160019-6
HISTORY OF MACHINE RECORDS RANCH
The Machine Records Branch of Administrative Service was established
to perform all of the vouchered and unvouchered accounting and statistical
work of an administrative nature for the entire agency.
This work was first started December, 1947 in the Central Index
Branch, Office of Collection and Dissemination, now called the Machine
Division, Office of Collection and Dissemination.
The first punched card application covered vouchered personnel
records. Other accounting applications were gradually added as
personnel and available machines permitted. Plans were made to ex-
tend the punched card procedures to.unvouchered accounting records
and because of the sensitivity of these records it was decided to ex-
tablish a separate machine installation under. the administrative control
of the Special Support Staff. It was further decided for reasons of
efficiency and economy that this installation should be responsible for
performing work of an administrative nature for the entire agency.
Personnel and machines assigned to this work in Office of Collection and
Dissemination were moved on 6 September 1950 to "L" Building to establish
the present Machine Records Branch. This was a small group which has
grown to its present size as additional punched card applications have
been added.
In the following paragraphh,the chronological growth of the Machine
Records Branch is outlined;
December, 1947 -- Machine Records Branch originated in the Office of
Collection and Dissemination, Central Index Branch. The first project
undertaken was a machine record of vouchered personnel on duty. This
project was handled as a Central Index Branch punched card application
in addition to the major application of indexing substansive intelligence
documents.
April, 1948 -- The further development of the Personnel Records
project was undertaken. One Planner was assigned,to the development of
the project and other proposed overt administrative projects.
May, 1948 -- A reorganization took place within the Office of
Collection and Dissemination, Central Index Branch became the Machine
Methods Branch and an Administrative Project Division within that Branch
was established to handle the overt personnel projects and other account-
ing work of an administrative nature. A planner, control clerk and
machine operators were assigned to the further developing and maintaining
of this project. Besides personnel records, other records such as overt
applicant records, T/O information, Security information and Military
file (Reservists) were placed in operation
January, 1950 -- Until this time the records were only those on the
vouchered rolls, then it was decided to transfer the unvouchered personnel
records to punched cards. Also, plans were made to set up unvouchered
payroll under a machine system.
Approved For Release : CIA-RDP54-00177A000100160019-6
 Approved For Release : CIA-RDP54-00177A000100160019-6
September, 1950 -- A Machine Records Division was established
under the Special Support Staff. This Division consisted of the per-
sonnel and projects that formerly had been the Administrative Projects
Division of the Office of Collection and Dissemination. The Division
had been operating in "M9 Building and had been sharing machines and
equipment with another machine component. This Division, independent
of all other machine components, was set up in ''L" Building.
December, 1950 -- The unvouchered payroll became a machine operation
in place of a manual operation.
January, 1951 -- In the course of the reorganization of the agency,
the Machine Records Branch became a part of Administrative Service Office.
In the succeeding monthsof 1951, due to the expansion of current projects
and developing of new projects, the Machine Records 'Branch more than
doubled in size, in machines, records, and personnel. It was necessary to
make two separate moves during the year of 1951 each time to larger
quarters. At the present time, the Machine Records Branch is servicing
besides Personnel Office (overt and covert), Finance Office, Audit Office,
Procurement Office, Office of Policy Coordination, Office of General
Services, Telephone Office, Courier Service and Training Office.
Approved For Release : CIA-RDP54-00177A000100160019-6