LETTER TO: (Sanitized)FROM: DALLAS IRVINE

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP70-00211R000500190023-0
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
3
Document Creation Date: 
December 19, 2016
Document Release Date: 
September 26, 2005
Sequence Number: 
23
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
July 26, 1960
Content Type: 
LETTER
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PDF icon CIA-RDP70-00211R000500190023-0.pdf153.02 KB
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Approved For Release 2005/11/21 : CIA-RDP70-00211 R000500190023-0 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION National Archives and Records Service Washington 25, D. C. July 26, 1960 Records nagemen cer Central Intelligence Agency Washington 25, D. C. In February 1955 the Selective Service System requested authority to dispose of the individual case files of all registrants for the draft for the years 1940-1947, excepting those of aliens (Class IV-C). This request was approved by the National Archives and Records Service, and Congressional authorization was contained in House Report No. 198, 84th Congress, 1st Session. One of the conditions under which we gave our approval was that the Selective Service System would continue to retain for an indefinite period of time the classification lists of local boards, showing successive actions on classification of registrants. It was also stipulated that if the classification lists of any local board had been lost or destroyed, or were otherwise inadequate, the pertinent individual case files of that local board would be retained in their stead . . In letters dated February 26, 1954, and September 30, 1954, the National Archives and Records Service requested the concurrence of the Central Intelligence Agency in this proposed disposal program. This General concurrence was given in replies by STAT Cabell, in letters dated May 14 and October 14, 1954, respectively. Other interested agencies were consulted and gave their concurrence at about the same time. As a result of the stipulation cited above, the Selective Service System found that the individual case files of some 110,000 registrants, in twenty-three local boards, had to be retained, because the classification lists of those boards were inadequate or had been lost. The Selective Service System has now, however, requested authority to dispose of these remaining 110,000 individual case files, purely on the ground that the use made of them in the past five years has been "so small. as to be insignificant." on file GSA release instruction apply Approved For Release 2005/11/21 : CIA-RDP70-00211 R000500190023-0 Approved For Release 2005/11/21 : CIA-RDP70-00211 R000500190023-0 The National Archives and Records Service believes that it is justified in disapproving this request, for to approve it would mean the destruction of the only remaining source of classification information for these 110,000 registrants. It would also gravely weaken the case for the further retention of any classification lists whatever, should the Selective Service System propose to dispose of them also. Our own experience, furthermore, has shown that there is a considerable, steady demand for classification information pertaining to World War I registrants even at this late date. Before taking action we felt it incumbent upon us to present these facts to the Central Intelligence Agency, since its concurrence in 1954 was based in part upon our assurance at that time that full classification information on all registrants would remain available. Would you please advise us, therefore, whether you agree with the stand we propose to take in this particular instance, and, if possible, whether you believe that the continued availability of classification information for all registrants is of importance to the present and future operations of the Central Intelligence Agency? Sincerely yours Dallas Irvine Chief Archivist War Records Division Approved For Release 2005/11/21 : CIA-RDP70-00211 R000500190023-0 UN:LASSIiFI~D ^ us ER~NN Y E] CONFIDFNTIAL E] SECRET _ MNIJIVV U r. l ,"-rMVVVUVV I VVLJ-v SUBJECT: (Optional) Proposed Disposal of Selective Service System Classification Records FROM: Records Management Staff Sl1AT Is OS still interested in retention of these records? 11-~17 -&~ FORM PREVIO IN 1 DEC 56 610 USEDIITIONSUS ^ SECRET ^ CONFIDENTIAL [] USE ONLY UNCLASSIFIED Approved For Release 2005/11/21 : CIA-RDP70-00211 R000500190023-0