PROPOSAL FOR OSS DOCUMENTARY HISTORY FROM ACTING ARCHIVIST OF THE UNITED STATES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88G01332R001001150003-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 15, 2011
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: September 8, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/15: CIA-RDP88G01332RO01001150003-1
TRANSMITTAL SLIP
DATE
TO:
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ROOM NO.
BUILDING
REMARKS:
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FROM:
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ROOM NO.
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FORM NO.,, , , REPLACES FORM 36-8 1471
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/15: CIA-RDP88G01332RO01001150003-1
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/15: CIA-RDP88G01332RO01001150003-1
Executive Rzgistl
86-
34
`
8 September 1986
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
FROM: J. Kenneth McDonald
Chief, History Staff
SUBJECT: Proposal for OSS Documentary History from Acting
Archivist of the United States
1. Attached is a letter from Dr. Frank G. Burke, Acting Archivist of
the United States, concerning a possible OSS documentary history, and a
proposed reply for your signature.
2. Back round. In July Mr. Alan Thompson, an Acting Assistant
Archivist, informally asked for my views on a National Archives proposal
(rising out of a staff member's conversation with you after your address to
SHAFR on 25 June) to ask CIA to publish a documentary history of OSS under
the sponsorship of the National Historical Publications and Records
Commission (NHPRC). After talking with Mr. Thompson, I concluded that
although an OSS documentary history is an admirable project, it would not be
in the Agency's interest to undertake it for the following reasons:
A. NHPRC experience indicates that an OSS documentary history would
cost several million dollars, and probably require at least five years
to get the first volume into print. Since the NHPRC cannot make grants
to Federal agencies, its sponsorship would offer CIA only official
recognition, guidance and standards for the project.
B. The National Archives now holds almost 4000 cubic feet of OSS
records, including 1000 cubic feet of R&A records from the Department of
State and nearly 3000 cubic feet of operational records from CIA. To
sift through this massive collection.-then edit and publish selected
documents in a series of volumes, would require a sizeable specialized
staff. We could not expect to find such trained personnel in CIA or
among its annuitants. It would take a good deal of time to recruit the
staff needed, and CIA could probably not use their special skills
productively once they completed the OSS project.
2. Recommendation. For the reasons noted above, I do not believe that
you need meet with r. Burke or his staff on this matter. I would therefore
recommend that you sign the attached letter.
Kenneth McDonald
Distribution:
Attachments Orig - Addressee
1 - Executive Secretary
DDA
1 - D/PAO
1 - D/OIS
1 EX
1-C/HS
1 - HS Chrono
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STAT
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/15: CIA-RDP88G01332R001001150003-1
National
rLzwve~3
AUG 8 1986
Washington, DC 20408
Honorable William J. Casey E 6vD
Director 86. 3613X
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, DC 20505
Dear Mr. Casey:
I remember with pleasure our luncheon of last year and the
discussion of the future disposition of CIA records. I am
pleased that your staff is proceeding with the work of
reviewing for declassification and preparing the early
records of the agency for transfer to the National Archives.
Recently, Mary A. Giunta, a member of the staff of the
National Historical Publications and Records Commission
(NHPRC), reported to me on your representation at the annual
meeting of the Society of Historians of American Foreign
Relations. She told me of her conversation with you
afterwards about the possibility of a, documentary history on
the work of the OSS during World War II. I am extremely
excited about the possibility of such a project. In my
role as chairman of the NHPRC, I would like to meet with you
and your staff regarding the possibility of establishing
such a project.
For your information, I am enclosing a copy of the latest
annual report of the NHPRC. I.look forward to hearing from
you.
FRANK G. BURKE
Acting Archivist
of the United States
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/15: CIA-RDP88G01332R001001150003-1 I
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/15: CIA-RDP88G01332RO01001150003-1
Central Intdlig nee Agpncy
1Executive Rzgistry
86- % /3X
18SEP1986
Dr. Frank G. Burke
Acting Archivist of the United States
National Archives and Records Administration
Washington, D.C. 20408
Dear Dr. Burke:
Thank you for your 8 August 1986 letter, and for the copy of the latest
annual report of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission
(NHPRC) that you enclosed. It was a pleasure last June, after my talk to
the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations, to meet Ms Mary
Giunta, who told me about the possibility of the NHPRC sponsoring an OSS
documentary history based on the records that we have transferred to the
National Archives.
I am glad to know more about the excellent work of the NHPRC, and I hope
that some suitable institution will undertake an OSS documentary history as
part of your publication program. Although I have to report that I see no
prospect of a CIA role in such a project, I shall ask our Chief Historian,
Dr. J. Kenneth McDonald, to consult with your staff about your plans. We
would, of course, hope to offer our encouragement and cooperation to any
institution that the NHPRC selected to undertake this major editorial
enterprise.
Sincerely,
Is! William J. Casey
William J. Casey
Director of Central Intelligence
Distribution:
Orig - Addressee
1
- Executive Secretary
1
- DDA
1
- D/PAO
1
- D/OIS
1
- EX
1
- C/HS
1
- HS Chrono
1
- Subject File
(DCI Corres)
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/15: CIA-RDP88G01332RO01001150003-1