BIOGRAPHIC REGISTER PROCEDURES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP57-00042A000100050001-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 15, 2000
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 3, 1948
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2000/09/07 Olf. _data
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Acting Chief,
Ii phic Register
l4anager*nt,Brancb,
Biographic Register Procedures
;
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Operationalcy . Determination should be made as to the
kinds of service the Register should
give.
1. Index selectioa -yes
2. Reference to document* - yes
3. Organised, synthesised reports - probably
4. Analysis and appraisal of information -
. Administrative Goals mhould be determined.
1. Extent of Service - This is contingent on policy determination
er above question.
2. Speed in ineoporating biographic information into Register.
3. Speed in servicing requests.
(A determination is needed as to which goals dominate in importance
since methods employed in obtaining goals 1 and 2 may be contradictory
or methods to achieve goals 2 and 3 may contradict each other)
C. Present Difficulties
1. A basic difference exists as to approach: Professional vs.
Machine
a. Is mainly a personality difference
b. Resolves aroung minor procedural defects - not the system
itself.
(1 Professionals typing onto= cards
2 Files retained in machine section
3 Coded information being determined by macblue section
2. Thi procedure is to slow.
D. Difficulties of Ahearn OardSsti
Dote I .
1. The professionalivaeltie, BOA
procedural defects. , . - ?,,
2. The inability tqjpitese4.an orgaiiii Aport when
considerable intrtol f scAl tile,r' 4 e
3. The inability tq, a a se relation s and contradictions.
4. The inability ted.,
' 'lie 4 of information. ?
...
Documou 0.
E. Difficulties of Proposed Polder System
sted
1. Typing by professional is not eliminated or substantially
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rodtund.
2. Staff time employed in answering requests will be sub-
stantially increased as a report must be written each
tine - This will also caw) a slowdown in speed of
servicing requests.
3. More staff time will be spent in maintaining files as
three filen (rather than two) will have to be maintained*
Polder file -
Biog. Card file - Biog. card file
Machine Index files - Machine index: f ii..
4. *whine will not be able to spot errors.
5. Retaining documents and publications will result in b
up a biographic library.
Conclusions
I. The proposed system does not overcome a major gripe, -
analyst typing informition.
2. The proposed system is not basically Changed as information
is still taken off by the analyst and follows through the
same steps.
3. The proposed system may slightly increese speed of putting.
information into the file since snob data is not in a
finished form. However, the time required to fill requests
will be substantially increased since information will
usually be reworked and always be retyped.
Recommendations-
1. The basic procedure be given further study to arrive at a
system which wills
a. Increase speed of both putting information into
register and filling requests
b. Eliminate analyst typing
oe Permit best utilization of professional staff at
each grade level
d. Include full utilisation of machine service.
2. 'bought be given to =rite of a procedure which will provide
for rapid assimilation of new data through identifying the
individual after information has been processed or at tine
request is received and utilizing machine techniques for
bringing together like items for analysis and identification.
3. Consideration be given to retaining dossier in card form when
information is meager (master card plus four) and then
-changing to a folder dosoier when information cannot be
handled on five cards. This would not only permit speeder
handling of the bulk of the information but would also
provide means by which organizedointegrated, appraised
reports can be given when substantial information is
available.
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Immediate &Oa= be taken to increase analysts' effectiveness:
a. Release from typing
b. Ready access to files
0. Identify information to be coded
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