LOCATION AND FINANCING OF THE FOREIGN NAMES WORK OF THE OFFICE OF GEOGRAPHY, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-05927A000100210012-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 46
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 13, 2001
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: April 24, 1967
• Content Type: REPORT

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LIMITED TO OFFICIAL USE ONLY
LOCATION AND FINANCING OF TIM FOREIGN NAMES WORK
OF THE OFFICE OF GEOGRAPHY, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Report of an Interagency Task Force
ON FILE DOI AND OMB RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
OSD REVIEW COMPLETED
Prepared for the Bureau of the Budget
Office of Management and Organization
April 24, 1967
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LOCATION AND FINANCING OF THE FOREIGN NAMES WORE
OF TBE OFFICE OF GEOGRAPHY, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTEFIOR
Report of an Interagency Task Force
C )NTENTS
Introduction . 1
Purpose
Origin of the study
Scope and method of the study
Background
1
1
1
Authority for standardization of place names 2
Origin and role of the Office of Geography 2
Findings 3
Foreign names requirements of Federal agencies
How significant requirements are being met
Extent to which requirements are currently met .
Opportunities for improvement in foreign names work
Basis for decision on location and financing of fore
names work.
gn
4
5
7
9
10
Alternative arrangements for foreign names work 11
Availability of alternatives under P.L. 80-242 of 1917 11
Evaluation of alternatives against criteria 12
Conclusions concerning the location and financing of the
Office of Geography 16
Recommendations 16
Appendix Attachment
Public Law 242 - 80th Congress, 1st Session A
Copies of correspondence pertaining to the study, De):uty
Director of the Bureau of the Budget to the Secretary
of the Interior, June 29, 1966
Secretary of the Interior to the Bureau of the Budget,
December 27, 1966 .
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Ivttachment
Deputy Director of the Bureau of the Budget to the
Secretary of the Interior, March 27, 1967
"Study Concept", dated February 23, 1967
Names, titles, and orgarizational location of personk,
interviewed by the Task Force
Membership and committees of the Board on Geographic
Names
Organization chart, Office of Geography, dated
May 25, 1966
Staffing pattern. Office of Geography, dated
March 10, 1967
Processes involved in the standardization of foreign
names
Inquiries processed by the Office of Geography, July
through December 30, 1966 IC
Distribution of gazetteers produced by the Office of
Geography
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LOCATION AND FINANCING OF THE FOREIGN NAMES WORK
OF THE OFFICE OF CEOGRAPHX2 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
teport of an Interagency Task Force
Introduction
This report sets forth the findings, conclusions, anc recommendations
of an interagency task force established by the Bureau of the Budget, with
the concurrence of the Secretary of the Interior, to review certain problems
relating to the Office of Geography of the Department of the Interior.
1. Purpose The purpose of the study was to determine the requirements
of Federal agencies for standard foreign names, evaluate ,Iternative arrange-
ments for meeting requirements, and make recommendations oncerning the
future location and ftnancing of the work currently performed by the Office
of Geography.
2. Origin of the study: Since 1943 the Office of Geography has been
engaged primarily in staff work leading to the standardization of foreign
names. Since the increased foreign names activity resulted from the names
requirements of national security agencies, its staff has been financed
primarily through reimbursements from those agencies.
The budgeting problems involved in interagency finan(ing, coupled with
the fact that foreign names work is also performed by other Federal agencies,
resulted in the decision that current arrangements for foreign names work
throughout the Government should be reviewed.
The study was assigned to an interagency Task Force, ::amposed of one
member each from the Bureau of the Budget, the Central Intelligence Agency,
and the Departments of Defense, the Interior, and State.
3. Scope and method of the study: The Task Force tnrough interviews
with appropriate officials, has:
a. Assessed the general requirements of Federal agencies for standard
foreign names, and the specific conditions and constraints which affect the
meeting of those requirements;
b. Reviewed the current and potential contributions of the Office of
Geography and other Federal agencies, chiefly the Defense mapping and chart-
ing agencies, toward meeting those requirements, including their work processes
and their relationships to the Board on Geographic Names; Ind
c. Obtained the views of users concerning the adequ cy of current
arrangements and services for meeting their needs.
The Task Force has also analyzed statutory provisions governing the
standardization of foreign names for use by all Federal agencies and their
relevance to current arrangements for foreign names staff -work.
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Background
L. Authority for standardization of place names: RIlor to 1947 the
standardization of place names for use by Federal agencies was carried out
by the Secretary of the interior and the United States Board on Geographic
Names under an Executive order. Public Law 80-242 of 194'. provided a
statutory basis for this function, established the curren/ Board on
Geographic Names, and authorized appropriations to carry it the purposes
of the Ant.
2. Origin and role of the Office of Geography: The Jffice of Geography
was established in 1943 by administrative action of the Sinretary of the
Interior to cope with the foreign names problems resultink, from World war II.
It succeeded the Division of Geographic Names, which prevlously had two
employees providing staff services for the Board on, Geographic Names, chiefly
in the domestic field. Using funds from defense agencies the staff of the
Office was expanded from two o 180 employees, all of Whom were engaged in
foreign names work.
After enactment of P.D. 80-242 in 1947, the Office wvs assigned
responsibility for carrying out the operational functions of the Secretary
under that Act. However, it continued to be primarily concerned with
foreign names, and reeived most of its funds from other !,gencies. in 1951
the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Interior and Insular affairs of the
House Appropriations Committee refused to recommend an appropriation for
the Office because the subcommittee was dealing with only part of the fund-
ing problem. Since that time the Office has been entirel: dependent on
interagency financing.
To permit direct funding of domestic names work, the Secretary of the
Interior, in 1958, transferred names work in that area to the Geological
Survey. Since then the Office of Geography has been concerned solely with
foreign names work. its Director serves the Board on Geographic Names as
its Executive Secretary and as its Executive Secretary for Foreign Names.
The Board's Executive Secretary for Domestic Names is appointed by the
Director of Geological Survey.
The Bylaws of the Board provide that the Executive Secretary to the,
Board shall be appointed by the Chairman, and shall be eiLber the Executive
Secretary for Foreign Names or the Executive Secretary for Domestic Names.
To date the position has always been held by the former,
All of the employees of the Office of Geography are amployees of the
Department of the Interior and are included in its personnel ceiling. The
Department also furnishes office space and certain administrative services
on a reimbursable basis. The Director of the Office reports to the Assistant
Secretary -- Mineral Resources, to whom the Secretary has delegated his
statutory authority to act w?Ah,finality on geographic names.
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STATINT
STATINT
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At present the Office produces gazetteers, by country, to support a
vide range of Government and other foreign names users as oart of the
interagency National Intelligence Survevigogram -- an in eragency basic
intelligence compilation servf.ng Government requirements, it also provides
an inquiries service through which a variety of services i, provided to
agencies which have needs not fully covered by the gazetteers. (See
Appendix, Attachment K.) Over the past three years the inquiries service
has accounted for approximately 12 percent of the total ma-thours of the
Office; the remaining 88 percent has gone into the gazetteer program and
administration.
The Office of Geography has a personnel ceiling of be positions,
including 53 permanent positions and 7 others. On March -196(, the
staffing of the Office was as follows:
ermanent employees
ridefinite emoloyees
l'emporary employees 0 ....
An organization chart; a detailed report of staffing, showing position
titles and grades; and a description of the work processes involved in names
standardization are included in the Appendix. (See Appendix, Attachments H,
F, and J, respectively.)
The problem of funding the foreign names work of the )ffice has been
a perennial one since its sudaen acceleration in 1943. Appropriations to
the Department of the Interior under P.L. 80-242 were minirnal, with a total
of $14,400 in FY 1950, the last year of direct appropriat)ns; since then
the Office has been dependent entirely on transfers of funds. In the early
years funds were transferred from several different agences in varying
amounts, and it was always questionable whether the transIers would be STATINTL
sufficient to maintain the current staff. Even after the ',3entra1
intelligence Agency assumed the primary financing it was nsually necessary
to supplement its contribution by transfers from other agencies.
Findings
Although P. L. 80-242 addresses itself to the names needs of the States
and the general public, it was quickly evident to the Tasi, Force that, with
respect to foreign names, such needs are not specifically rormulated and
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communicated to the Secretary of the Interior. Therefore, the following
summary of pertinent findings deals only with Federal agemies.
1. Foreign names requirements of Federal agencies
a. Characteristics of names requirements: Foreign names are used by
Federal agencies in a variety of ways in different activit es. These uses
determine the specific foreign names requirements of the trier agencies and
their characteristics.
Four basicaily different characteristics of names req ;Irements were
identified:
(1) Standardization: This involves the use of place names Which,
through reference to a common source, can be uniformly used and inter-
preted by all persons involved in complex chains of cammunLcation. To the
extent possible, standard names are also the names currentLy in local usage,
but this is not true to the extent that the process of standardization lags
behind current events.
(2) Currency: Some users require names that are in :urrent local
usage. For them the importance of currency overrides standardization per se.
(3) Variants. Variants are of two types: (a) Different names are
sometimes in wide use for the same entity. This is especially common with
respect to colonial countries, where ruling nations often ignored local usage
and applied place names in their own languages. (b) The same name may have
different forms or spellings in different source materials used by agency
personnel. Users need the variant names, appropriately cross referenced,
for positive identification.
(4) Accuracy: Accuracy is a characteristic of the end product of
_ _
foreign names processing which also involves two different qualities:
(a) The first simply involves the elimination of mistakes either in current
processing or in a product of others which is used as source material for
place names; (b) the second involves the technical rendition of names, in-
cluding accuracy of the printed word form (internal capitalization, hyphena-
tion, diacritical markings, etc.), and the quality of transliteration or
transcription. ''Accuracy" is used with this second meaning in subsequent
pages.
b. Specific agency requirements: For discussion of names requirements
Federal agencies may be grouped into three categories: Intelligence
runctions; (2) Defense mapping and charting functions; and (3) others.
(1) Intelligence functions: The need for standard 'oreign place
names is pervasive throughout the intelligence community. Such names are
essential for accurate communication among widely separatt offices and
individuals performing a variety of interrelated and comp ementary functions.
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Accurate cammunication in turn may be vital to national security. Since
raw intelligence data comes from many sources -- maps, reports, documents
of any kind -- and sucn sources may conflict, analysts muse have ready
access to a means of resolving such conflicts accurately Users emphasized
that if a source of standard names did not exist it would Rave to be created
within the intelligence community.
Intelligence users, however, also need currency in names, particularly
those units which provide support for field operations. Te the extent
gazetteers do not meet the need for currency, names are reerred to the
Office of Geography.
Several users indicated need for name variants.
Some users indicated need for full technical accuracy including
diacritical markings. ALL need such markings, of course, n the Instances
where different markings indicate different place names.
On the other hand, the intelligence community does nc% typically require
great "depth" of coverage. Most users indicated that pracically all of
their needs at this time would be met by a gazetteer based on the density
of names information typically included on maps at a scale of 1:250,000.
(2) Defense mapping and charting agencies: The prim,try mission of
these agencies is to produce maps and charts as required hie the unified
and specified commands and the military departments, Thea' often require
name coverage typical of a map at the scale of 1:50,000.
While standard names are desired, the need for currency is overriding
whenever a "standard" name does not reflect current local Jsage. Although
variants are used, as required, there is less interest in Tariants and in
a high degree of accuracy than in standardization and currency.
(3) Other agencies: Th p Library Of Congress uses foreign place
names extensively in its cataloguing system, relying on standard names to
the extent feasible. The Library's catalogue cards are sold, and have wide
distribution in the United States and other countries. Its geographer
expressed need for standardization, variants, historical names, and accuracy
in meeting the needs of the Library and its users.
Executive agencies, such as Post Office, Interior, Agriculture,
Commerce, have some foreign names requirements, but not sufficient to
warrant detailed exploration in this study.
2. How significant requirements are being met
To the extent feasible, agencies rely on the Board ot Geographic Names
and the Office of Geography to meet their foreign names requirements. How-
ever, the Defense napping and charting agencies also have -Ixtensive in-house
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capacity for foreign names wcrk. The specific contributi n of each agency
is described below.
a. The Board on Geovaphic Names: The Board, conjointly with the
Secretary of the Interior, is the central authority for "etandardizing" all
place names and their spellings for use by Federal agencies. In the foreign
names area the Board is assisted by its Foreign Names Committee and its
Advisory Committees on Antarctic Names, on Undersea Names and on Arabic
and Persian.
Standard names are currently published in NIS gazetteers, by country,
for Government-wide use. The gazetteers without NIS attrebution are printed
for public use as BGN products.
The Board also makes available to nny Federal agency the policies,
romanization systems, and other procedures which it has approved for use in
processing foreign names. These facilitate in-house work as required to
meet agency needs.
Each romsnization aystem sets forth the procedures f
names of a particular language into standard forms. Spec.
for standardizing names of a particular country indicate '
included, the current sources of names to be used, the sy
in transliteration or transcription, etc.
The Board, with the assistance of the Department of
international cooperation in names standardization throu0s
Several regional meetings have been held, and a general Un
scheduled in Geneva next September.
r converting the
fic procedures
he names to be
tem to be followed
tate, is promoting
the United Nations.
Conference is
b. The Office of Geograp The Director of the Office cooperates
with the Central Intelligence Agency in programming the peoduction of NIS
gazetteers. Production is scheduled two years in advance Priorities are
based on consideration of the NIS program schedule, other priorities in the
intelligence community, the. capability of the Office staff, the scope of
the current gazetteers, and knowledge about name Changes since the last
revision. General policy calls for revision at least eve y 10 years; this
schedule is not met in some instances, and in others earl er revision may
he necessary.
The Office is responsible for all staff work involve,
the gazetteers, including the development or revision of ,
codures, the procurement of i,he latest reliable sources o '
the processing of names, and the submission of materials ?
as required.
The Office maintains the card file of standard names
file as new information becomes available.
in producing
olicies and pro-
information,
or Board approval,
up-dating the
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The Office also fleets current requests of Federal agencies for
additional standard names through its inquiries service. uiquiries can
sometimes be answered from the card file, but usually require research and
names processing in accordance with HGN policies and procenures.
The Director of the Office has been a major force in_admancing
international cooperation in canes standardization. He has served as
Chairman of the UN committee of experts which assisted in planning and
conducting regional meetings, and is serving in the same capacity with
respect to-the Geneva conference. Since 1947, on the initiative of the
Office, close bilateral working relations have been maintained with the
British counterpart of the Office. Although less advanced, bilateral
cooperative relations are also being developed with other lountries as
opportunities arise.
c. Central Intelligence Agency: The CIA has been primarily
responsible for financing the production of gazetteers by the Office of
Geography. It also maintains the punched card file of standard names.
It was noted that the punched cards can not reproduce diacritical markings.
Components of CIA rely on the NIS gazetteers and the inquiries
service of the Office of Geography to support its linguistic, geographic,
cartographic, and basic research staffs with respect to fcreign names
requirements. The cartographic staff may do preliminary names work if
necessary to meet urgent nap requirements, but the resultti are submitted
to the Office of Geography fcr review and editing.
d. Department of Defense: Components of the Defenst Intelligence
Agency require standard names, and rely on the NIS gazetteers, supplemented
by the inquiries servIce of the Office of Geography.
The Defense mapping and charting agencies are largeln, self-sufficient
in foreign names work. This in-house capacity is essentinl because (i) the
names requirements for their cartographic products greatln exceed the avail-
ability of standard names, aid (2) currency is required at the time of map
or chart production.
The Army Nap Service maintains the Defense topographic map Library,
to which other agencies have access. The ANS staff includes geographers
and linguists with foreign names capabilities, and it elan is capable of
doing extensive field researcn on place names in the cource of collecting
basic data for map production
3. Extent to which requirements are currently met
a.. Agency requirements
(1) The intelligence community: The use of NIS gazt.tteers is
prescribed. for NIB program activities, and gazetter prod.ur-tion and
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revision, insofar as possible with available funds, are geared to the broad
requirements met by that interagency program.
Other components of the intelligence community also required standard
names and rely heavily on the NIS gazetteers. For example, some components
of the Defense Intelligence Agency are required by DOD dieective to use only
standard names. However, some require BGN approved names which reflect
current usage. Some also have ad hoc needs for greater depth of coverage
than gazetteers provide. Officials in such components reported that such
needs cannot always be met promptly by the inquiries serv:ce of the Office
of Geography at present staffing levels.
Naps are not an efficient reference source for obtaining required
standard names information. Even if the map names were seandardized.
several users commented that maps could not be used becaue of the storage
prOblem.
(2) Defense mapping and Charting agencies. The foreign names
requirements of these agencies are met in-house at the cost of some over-
lapping and duplication of the work of the Office of Geography and at the
sacrifice of standardization. However, currency is required, whether or
not a name has BGN approval.
Although names are processed in general accord with applicable BGN
policies and procedures, names are not submitted to BGN for approval as
standard names for use by other Federal agencies. However, the Office of
Geography makes some use of AAS maps as source material, ithough more
current information often is available from the foreign ceuntry at the
time work is started on a gazetteer for the country.
The Department of Defense also has extensive coopera'ive mapping
arrangements with other countries which include arrangemeets for place
nentng.
b. Types of uses
_
(1) Gazetteers provide a convenient reference tool ehrough which
many staff members can have ready access to standard name;, variants,
proper spelling, place identification, and location by coordinates. Users
Indicated that gazetteer content is basically satisfactory and meets most
of their requirements, but some expressed need for greater depth and more
frequent revision. A survey to determine such user needs was suggested.
Gazetteers are needed on every country in the world.
On the other hand, gazetteers are not a good tool fol use in
producing maps anii charts.
(2) Defense maps end charts of some areas provide greater depth of
coverage than is required for NIS gazetteers, but they an not a convenient
source of ready reference. They are inadequate for some esers with respect
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to standardization, many are out of date, and currently they are produced
by "section" end may not cover entire countries.
ANS produces gazetteers for use with some map series but they may not
cover entire countries.
Opportunities for improvement in foreign names work
Analysis of the above f-Ladings reveals significant opportunities for
Government-wide improvement of future foreign names work 12 order to meet
agency requirements more adequately and to take full advantage for standard-
ization purposes of foreign names work wherever performed These opportuni-
ties arise Chiefly from the following:
1. As the coverage of both AMS maps and NIS gazetteors becomes more
complete, the opportunities for better coordination in programming names
work for the two activities will increase significantly because the foreign
names need will be primarily one of maintaining currency
2. When standard names more adequately reflect current local usage,
the Defense mapping and charting agencies can rely more completely on
standard names, as they would prefer to do.
3. With appropriate management controls the quality standards which
are desirable for BGN approved names can be maintained in any component
doing large amounts of foreign names work.
It. As the coverage of standard names more nearly fu fills agency
requirements, all agencies can increase their reliance on a central source
and reduce the amount of ad hoc processing required.
5. Computerization of information in the central standard names file
would speed up access to current information, facilitate he production
of gazetteers, and permit special runs of information required for special
projects or purposes. Costs would be offset to some extent by possible
savings in other areas. For example, it is now possible o print out
diacritical markings by computer, whereas punched cards de not have that
capability and markings must be supplied manually on copy for printing cf
gazetteers. Both ANS and CIA are currently experimenting with the use cf
computers.
6. Centralization of foreign names work, to the max_ mum extent
feasible, could eliminate current overlapping and duplicaeion, increase
efficiency through use of cannon resources, permit optimum use of staff
specialists and new technology, greatly increase the volume of standard
foreign names, and simplify international cooperation eff rts.
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:?kAA for decision on location and financing of foreign names work
In light of its findings the Task Force decided that the effort and
rwie required to determine the resources required to meet the foreign names
requirements of Federal agencies under alternative agencies or organize-
'% ions, as called for in the "Study Concept" (see Appendix, Attachment E),
Ara s not necessary to the primary purpose of the study, ank1 therefore was
wt warranted at this time.
Aothing was found, however, to suggest that present ievels of servie
eould be maintained at significantly less cost in the immediate future
under any alternative arrangements. The foreign names WOTK of the Office
of Geography now meets agency requirements not met througt the foreign
names work of Defense mapping agencies, and vice versa. 1nerefore both
types of work would have to be continued under any arrangement. Although
,& specific impact study has not been made, it is apparent to the Task
Force that such a severe budget reduction as has been mad( by the CIA for
foreign names work would not meet the minimum requirement for names
standardization and would virtually destroy the essential expertise that
has been developed in the Office of Geography.
This conclusion, however, does not rule out the need for better
arrangements for foreign names staff work in order to mak( full use of
all agency capabilities; to evolve, over a period of time, the most effec-
tive and economical use of staff and resources; and to revolve the budget
problems of the Office of Geography, which have persisted over many years.
Findings indicate that any alternative arrangement r, r foreign names
work Should meet the following criteria:
Be1. consistent with tae requirements of P.L. 80-21-2 and responsive
to the needs of the Secretary of the Interior and the Boa:,d on Geographic
'Aiames in carrying out their statutory responsibilities;
Take account of the relation of foreign names wok to agency
Provide the capability for achieving needed improvements, sucn
coordinating the programmag and production of gazetteers, maps, and
charts to the extent feasible, eliminating overlapping anr duplication,
r,r-)viding for optimum use of specialized staff, and assufing compliance
with statutory requirements and Ba standards in order to take full
a&antage of the foreign names processing actually done t- Federal
LY,e;ncies;
4, Be capable of providing single-source financing )f staff and
L)'aer resources required to meet the needs of all Federal agencies for
0:andard foreign names;
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5. Be able to utilize and supplement the current exrertise of tne
Office of Geography; and
6. Be able to cooperate effectively in furthering i ternational
cooperation in names standardization.
Alternative arramapents for foreign names work
en
1. Availability of alternatives under P.L. 80-242: In deciding what
alternative arrangements for foreign names work would be onsistent with
current law, careful consideration was given to the obligations of the
Secretary of the Interior, the Board an Geographic Names, and other
departments and agencies under P.L. 80-242.
The Act provides that:
a. The Board shall include one representative named by the head of
each of the Departments of State, War, Navy, Post Office, Interior,
Agriculture, and Commerce, the Government Printing Office and the Library
of Congress, and such other Federal agencies as the Secrenary of the
Interior, upon recommendation of the, Board, shall determine. (Defense,
Air Force, and the Central Intelligence Agency are now represented.)
b. The Secretary of the Interior, conjointly with the Board on
Geographic Names, "shall provide for uniformity in geographic nomencla-
ture and orthography throughout the Federal Government".
c. The Board, subject to the approval of the Secretary, "shall
formulate principles, policies and procedures to be followed with refer-
ence to both domestic and foreign names; and shall decide the standard
names and their orthography for official use".
d. The Secretary shall promulgate in the name of th Board
"decisions with respect to geographic names and principles of geographic
nomenclature and orthography"; ... "cause such studies and investigations
to be node and such records to be kept as may be necessary or desirable
in carrying out the purposes of the Ant"; and ... "provide a place of
meeting onli staff assistance to the Board".
e. "The staff shall be responsible to the Secretary, who snail
prescribe its relations to the Board and the committees cr the Board";
and
f. All Federal agencies "shall refer all geographic names and
problems to the Board for the purpose of eliminating dnpl cation of wort,
personnel, and authority".
In the past, that Act apparently has been construed ',40 mean that all
foreign names work which resnits in standard names for us of Federal
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agencies must be done by staff to the Board provided by th
the Interior. This has resulted in a number of anomalous
a. Although carried on Interior's payroll, the forei
of the Office of Geography has never been significantly fi
since World War II, but by the agencies to whose missions
lated. Interior has made no contribution since FY 1950.
b. Current arrangements for standard names do not to
of the foreign names work of the Defense mapping and chart
although those agencies follow BGN policies and procedures
In processing names required for maps and charts.
c. The provision of P.L. 60-242 which directs all
refer all geographic names and problems to the Board for '
eliminating duplication is not reflected in current relata
the Board and other agencies whose operating requirements
through the Office of Geography.
o Secretary of
lituations:
gn names staff
lanced by Interior
;he work is re-
ke full advantage
Ing agencies,
, where applicable,
deral agencies to
ne purpose of
onships between
:.mnnot be met
d. A proposal that the Jecretary seek appropriation: necessary to
meet all foreign names requirements would be unrealistic a view of the
mission of the Department and the demonstrated attitude o, the house
eubcommittee handling intericr appropriations.
e. Even if appropriations could be obtained, the centralization of
foreign names work in Interior would (1) create an untenatle situation
in which major operating-support programs of Defense wouli: be dependent
on work done and controlled by another department and supported by appro-
priations handled inidally through Congressional subcommittees concerned
with domestic programs; and (2) result in continued ineff cient use of
staff engaged in names work for gazetteers, maps and chars.
The Task Force tas concluded that the requirements u P.L. b()-242
ALL be met by any arrangement under which (1) foreign Pares staff work
is perforned in accordance with policies, procedures, and standards
approved by the Board; (2) the results are submitted to the Secretary of
the Interior and the Board for decision on names arli orttography and for
promulgation of standard names by the Secretary of the lxr erior in accord-
ance with the Ant; and (3) the Secretary of the Interior rovides such
staff assistance to tae Boaxe as is required to enable el- to perform those
statutory functions.
IF this conclusion is valid, several alternatives ar availabLe, as
discussed below. If the conclusion is not valid, any change in 6he status
quo would require a ceange in current law, either through a reorgerezation
plan or an amendment to P. L. 80-242.
2. Evaluation of alternatives against criteria; Pursuant to the
conclusions described above, available alternatives coneeeding foreign
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names work include cortinuatien of the status quo; transfer of the foreign
names work of the Offlce of Geography to another executive agency concerned
with domestic programs which is represented on the Board W.7 Geographic
Names; or transfer of the work to an agency concerned with foreign areas,
i.e., the Department of State, the Central Intelligence Agency, or the
Department of Defense. Each of these alternatives is evallated below in
terms of the criteria established by the Task Force for scenition to current
problems.
a. Continuation of the status (1112: Under this alternative staff work
resulting in standard foreign names would continue to be tne responsibility
of the Office of Geography (Interior), serving the needs of Federal agen-
cies on a reimbursable basis. This arrangement satisfies aone of the
criteria except that it is not inconsistent with law.
Foreign names staff work is not related to the basic mission of the
Department of the Interior. When responsibility for standardization of
names was originally placed in that Department, the functinn was concerned
almost,exclusiveLy with domestic names, and most of the demand for standard
names was generated by the domestic topographic mapping program of the
Geological Survey.
Today the situation is reversed. The volume of requirements for
standard foreign names is many times that for domestic names, and none
of the agencies of Interior is a major user of foreign names. In addition,
the standardization of foreign names involves different p(Licies and pro-
cedures and requires different staff qualifications and oeerating methods
from those applicable to domestic names work. Therefore no significant
relationship exists between foreign and domestic names worK., except that
? the products of both serve the Secretary anti the BGN in carrying out their
statutory responsibilities
The Department weuld have little capability for achiving needed
improvements in foreign names work.
Finally, the Department has not financed foreign names work, and
apparently would be unable to obtain necessary appropriations.
b. Other execut ve agencies with domestic programs: The Departments
of Agriculture, Commerce, and the Post Office are represented on the Board
of Geographic Names. However, none is a significant user ef foreign names,
and offers no opeortuxity tior improvement over the status luo.
c. Department or State: The Department has both a iolitical and a
user interest in the standardization of foreign names. Al present, however,
the funding probLem is believed to be insurmountable, and facilities for
Ule production of 941(S and gazetteers would not be readi available.
d. Central inte,ligence Agency: The CIA generates / heavy demand
for standard foreign names, which are deemed essential to their operations
by the officials interviewed in the survey. In general, 'nese are needs
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common to the intelligence community, although CIA by interagency assign-
ment has financed the gazetteers which are used throughout he community.
The CIA has virtually no in-house capacity for foreign names work,
relying almost exclusively on the Office of Geography. It .lould have
little or no capability for achieving needed Government-wida improvements
in foreign names work, including optimum utilization of the expertise of
the Office. Its unique mission would preclude effective participation in
promoting international cooperation in names standardization programs.
Finally, unaer current budget stringencies it has encountered difficulty
In maintaining past levels of support for the Office of Geegraphy.
e. Department of Defense The mapping, charting, anc geodesy
activities of the Department Cf Defense, under management cf the Defense
intelligence Agency, are major users and processors of foreign geographic
names as a part of word-wide cartographic production programs. The use
of gazetteers as a basic source of names in the cartographjc process is
not efficient; therefore the majority of the place names are obtained
from the most appropriate map or chart source and processee in accord with
current policies and procedures of the Board on Geographic Names. This
process is standard for the cartographic production agenciA s of the three
Military Departments, and represents an extensive but neceesary duplication
of the foreign geograpaic names work of the Office of Geography in the pro-
duction of the NIS gazetteers. Although there are differences in the de-
tailed procedures because of the differences in end producas and the
requirements for associated records, there are several acInvities that are
essentially common or related:
the procurement of basic source materials, such as maps, gazetteers,
geographic texts, guides, and related, materials, that provede foreign
place names and their correlation to specific geographic features;
- the conduct of' ground, hydrographic, and aerial sur,reys of foreign
areas, including related geographic place names by such means as tape
recordings, local research, etc.;
- the cataloguing, st;orage, and retrieval of these ma erials, and
the provision of related library services;
- the cartographic and, geographic research to identify, analyze,
and evaluate the source mater: ala available for a given area for the
purpose of selecting the most suitable source for the accurate identifi-
cation, location, classifIcatlon, and portrayal of geograpdc features
and their related place names
- the formuIatior of proposed romanization systems an names
procedures for consideration '4 the Board on Geographic Aages and the
evaluation of other procedure-,3 under consideration by the ioard;
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- the application of BGN policies and procedures in tee processing
of foreign geographical names
- the production of gazetteers to meet military requieements not
satisfied by the NIS gazetteers; and
- the coordination of product design and cooperative roduction
efforts through international standardization activities, -ooperative
mapping and charting agreements, and participation in inte-aational tech-
nical societies and otner organizations.
The mapping and caarting activities of Defense generally share the
concern of the Office of Geography for the accurate spelling and rendition
of current foreign place names. Although the prime concern is to furnish
the current local version of a name in the event of need t)r the product
in a military operation in the area, the objectives of the mapping and
charting community am those of the Board on Geographic Names and the
Office of Geography are basically the same in principle_
Another consideration relevant to Defense as an alternative location
for the foreign names work of the Office of Geography is ine current
Defense plan to centralize its foreign geographic names activity to the
extent that is practical. Although some language expertise will continue
to be necessary at the several, production facilities, the asic foreign
place name expertise will be shifted to the Army Map Servle as a central
Defense service facility.
Current mapping and charting technology embraces the application of
place names to cartographic products, and is adaptable to related geograp-
hic names services and gazetteer production. For example.. the geographic
names input for the automatic application of place names ?n cartographic
products could be retained as part of a data bank for the automatic pro-
duction of gazetteers_ Furthermore, the feedback of the thousands of
place names processed every year by the various cartograptic production
agencies would represent a major contribution toward the expansion and
continuous updating of the geographic names data bank.
These facts indicate than the foreign names work of he Office of
Geography is clearly related o the mission of the Department of Defense
and that the responsiellity could appropriately be assume( and financed
by that Department.
The proper organizational and physical integration or the foreign
geographic names activities of the Office of Geography into the mapping,
charting, and geodesy structure of Defense offers many poeential improve-
ments in the Government-wide efficiency and effectiveness of foreign place
names work and services. Furthermore, because needed improvements involve
large-scale activities of the Department, it would appear to be the only.
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agency capable of achieving tnem. Defense also could mak, full use of the
expertise of the Office of Geography.
Since the Department of Defense already has extensiva
relationships with cartographic services of other countrin
appear to be no barrier to effective participation by the
promoting international cooperation in names standardizatl
cooperative
s, there would
Department in
on.
Conclusions concerning the location and financing of the effice of Geography
Consistent with the above evaluation of available at'ernatives, the
Task Force has concluded:
I. The foreign names work of the Office of Geograptn, including the
production of gazetteers and the inquiries service, must he continued to
meet the needs of the intelligence community.
2. The Department of the Interior is not the most aipropriate location
for the foreign names work of the Office, although the e retary must con-
tinue to provide such staff assistance to the Board on Geographic Names as
is required to carry put its responsibilities under P.In -0-242.
3. Centralization of foreign names work in the Depaetment of Defense
is consistent with the criteria established to guide the ask Force in
recommending a solution to identified problems.
Recommendations
The Task Force recommenos:
1. That the Department of Defense, beginning in FY 969:
a. Assume the production and financing of NIS gazeteers and the
performance of related services as necessary to meet the eeds of Federal
agencies for standard foreign names;
b. Employ such staff then on board in the Office of Geography as are
employable under Defense personnel policies and regulations;
C. Promote international, cooperation in names standardization In
cooperation with the Board, on Geographic Names and the Department of State;
and
d- Establash appropriaee internal organization and Terating methods
to assure that its foreign names work is responsive to tho needs of other
Federal agencies and the Board on Geographic Names. The nask Force be-
lieves these conditions can best be met through (1) assigning to the
Defense Intelligence Agency -- Mapping Control the responAbility for
programming foreign names wonk, developing policies and peocedures to be
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followed in such work for approval by the Board on Geograpaic Names, and
for assuring the maintenance of appropriate standards in tie processing
of foreign names; and (2) centralizing in the Army Map SerTice all other
foreign names work of the Department.
;'e. That the Secretary of the Interior, as required 1 P.L. 60-242,
continue to provide a meeting place and secretariat services to the Board.
on Geographic Names and its ereign Names Committee to eneole them to review
and approve proposed policies and procedures for foreign names work and
names processed by Defense in accordance therewith. For (xampie, under
the Bylaws of the Board the Executive Secretary for Domes/ic Names could
be named as the Executive Secretary of the Board and also provide the
limited secretariat services required in connection with meetings of the
Foreign Names Committee. It is not anticipated that this would require
the Executive Secretary's involvement in the substantive spects of foreign
names work.
3- That the Bureau of tele Budget seek additional financing for the
Office of Geography for FY 1968 (a) in order that agency needs may be met
and the expertise of the Office of Geography not be dissipated prior to
assumption of responsibility by Defense; and (b) in order that the rights
of employees involved in functions to be assumed by another department
under existing etatutory authority may be protected as ereectively as is
customary in formal reorganinations.
4. That final decision be made known as soon as poesible to offset
adverse effects which the current uncertain situation iG ,aving on staff
morale and turnover in. the, Office of Geography.
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hLL thraent A
LAW 242--80111 CONGRESS]
is6,PTER 330-1sT SESSION]
03, 12621
AN ACT
To provide a central authority for standardizing geographic names for e purpose
of ,liminati rig duplication in standardizing such names among 0 e Federal
derartment: and for other purposes.
Re it (waled by thr Senate and House of Representatis of the
United States of A.merica in Congress assembled, That the Secretary
of the II nter,or, hereinafter called the Secretary, conjointly ,vith the
lioard on Geographic Names, as hereinafter provided, shall pr wide for
uniformity :in geographic nomenclature and orthography th oughout
the Federal Government. The Secretary may exercise his t unctions
through such officials as he may designate, except that such it uthority
as relates to the final approval or review of actions of the !toard on
Geographic shall be exercised by him, or his Under or rssistant
Seiretaries...
'Mere is herby established a Board on Geographi, Names,
hereinafter tailed the Board. The membership of the Bo, rd shall
include one representative from each of, the Departments f State,
War, Navy, Post (Atte, Interior, Agriculture, and Comm, t.ce, and
from the Gc-vernment Printing Office, and the Library of ongress.
The Board may also intlude representatives from such Fedi', d agen-
cies r.s the Secretary, upon recommendation of the Board, from
lime io tiMe lind desirable, even though these agencies are in th depart-
ments others ise represmted on the Board. The members of tite Board
shall he appointed by I he respective heads of the department!. or inde-
pendnt agencies that they represent. Each member shall be pointed
for a two-ye;ir term but may be reappointed to successive term is. The
memiiers othe Board shall serve without additional coup:, nsation..
The Board i-hall nominate a Chairman to be appointed by he Sec-
retary., and studi establish such working committees as found
&P;siritble.
e Board, -tubiect to the approval of the Secretti ,?y, shall
fornaulate principles, policies, and procedures to be followed vith ref-
erencu to both domestic and foreign geographic names; and sha II decide
the siandard names and their orthography for official use. 't he prin-
ciples policies, and proiedures formulated hereunder shall be iesigned
to serve the interests of the Federal Government and the geneml public,
iuen tist the effective cooperation of the Federal departmi nts and
agencies most concerned, and to give full consideration to thi specific
interests of particular Federal and State agencies. Action may be
token by the Secretary in any matter wherein the Board doe:. not act
within a reasriratfe ti Inc. The Board may make such recomnic idations
le the Secreciry as it, finds appropriate in connection with Iii Act.
VJEt., 4, WI -..;ocretat shall cause such studies and investigitions to
mode and SUNI records to be kept as may be necessary or , ,esirable
i-a ryinj cut the pu poses of this Act, and he shall provich a place
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Irina_ LAW 20 I
of meeting and staff assistance to the Board. The staff shall be rem Ain-
sible to the Secretary, who shall prescribe its relations to the Board and
the committees of the Board. The Secretary may establish from ime
to time, upon recommendation of the Board, advisory committees of
k7nited States citizens who are recognized experts in their respo tive
fields to assist, in the solution of special. problems arising under this 'id,.
Sex. 5. For the guidance of the Federal Government, the Seem ary
shall promulgate in the name of therBoard, from time to time aril in
such form as will carry out the purposes of this Act, decisions vith
respect to geographic names and principles of geographic nome
Cure and hrthography. The Secretary shall also furnish such a idi?-
Clonal information with respect to geographic names as will assi in
carrying out the purposes of this Act.
SEC. 6. With respect to geographic names the pertinent deci ons
and primuples issued by the Secretary shall be standard for all n Ae-
rial published by the Federal Government. The United States 11, ,ard
on Geographical Names in the Department of the Interior cre: tted
by Executive order, is hereby abolished, and the duties of said B, ,ard
are transferred r.o the Board herein created, and all departne-nts,
bureaus, and agencies Of the Federal Government shall refer all geo-
graphic names and problems to the said Board for the purpot, of
eliminating duplication of work, personnel, and authority.
SEC. 7. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as applying t the
naming of the offices or establishments of any Federal agency.
SEc. 8. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such
as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
Approved July 25, 1947.
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Attachment B
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
BUREAU OF THE BUDGET 0
Washington, D. C. 20503
June e!e 1966
MEMORANDUM FOR HONORABLE STEWART Le UDALL
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
Since at least as far back as FY i955 the Central Intelligence Agency
has provided over ninety percent of the financial support for ;he
foreign names staff of the Board on Geographic Names. This support
has been premised on the Board's production of the National Intelli-
gence Survey gazetteers. I believe the time has come to review both
the means of providing staff support to the Board and the responsibility
for funding any staff support determined to be necessary. The-e are
two basic questions which need to be addressed:
1. Does the Board on Geographic Names require an independent
staff for its foreign names function?
The Geological Survey currently provides staff support to the
Board in its domestic names function as a logical outgrowth of the
Survey's responsibilities for domestic cartography. It would appear
that the Department of Defense could similarly provide staff shpport
to the foreign names function of the Board at some savings to he
Government. The Department currently devotes considerable sterf time
to the production of foreign name gazetteers because they must identify
place names in greater detail than that provided by the Board' 1
gazetteers.
2. If an independent foreign names staff is required. or the
Board, should this staff te directly funded in an Interior Devertment
appropriation?
While the Boaid's gazetteers do serve a useful fun tion for
the intelligence community, the Beard, under delegation from :?)u, has
a broader responsibility for standardizing foreign place names for the
entire U. S. Government. If an independent foreign names staff is
required for the Board, it would repear that this broader resp)nsibility
would Justify more direct funding
We would appreciate it very much if you would undertake a reviw of the
above questions so that we can resolve, these issues prior to the com-
pletion of the FY 1968 budget review process. Bureau staff wiel provide
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any assistance you may desire including arranging contacts wit t. appropriate
persons in the Department of Defense. We would appreciate recAving a
eport of your findings, together with whatever action recommendations you
teel are appropriate. by SeptembeT 15, 1966.
/s/ Sam HUghee
Phillip S. Hugxes
Deputy. Directo-
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UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
OFFIICE OF THE SECRETARY
WAS HI NGTON, D.C. 20240
1506, bbi)
Dear Mr. Hughes:
This is a response to your request of June 29, 1966, rAgarding
the organization pLacement and funding of foreign namel work
performed by the Office of Geography.
Pursuant to your request, we have undertaken an interril review
of the foreign names activities conducted by the Offic, of
Geography. AS a result of this review, we have conctuted that
the foreign names work is to some degree inconsistent 4ith the
central missions of the Department of the Interior.
As you pointed out in your memorandum of June 29, the
support for the foreign names function of the Board or.
Names has been derived from agencies other than Interi
Department has and will continue to support the domest
function of the Board). We are aware that other agenc
larly those involved in the preparation of foreign mar,
activities which, to some extent, duplicate the work c
of Geography. Therefore, we suggest that the Bureau c
consvit with foreign names user agencies along with ot
Government interested in Antarctic names and undersea
gain a more general understanding of the relationship
Office of Geography to others in the foreign names fie
thereby assist in determining the future disposition c
Office.
Sincerely you
rincipal
Geographic
r (the
[c names
es, particu-
have
' the Office
the Budget
'era in
tames to
)f the
.d and
" the
Mr. Phillip S. Hughes
Deputy Director
Bureau of the Budget
Washington, D. C. 20503
Secretary of the Inter or
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fOCECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE, PRESIDENT
BUREAU OF THE BUDGET 0
Washington, D. C. 20503
March 27: 1967
Honorable Stewart L. Udall
Secretary of the Interior
Washington, D. C.
Dar Stewart:
You suggested in your letter to me of December 20, 1966, that
the Bureau of the Budget consult with foreign (including Antaretic
and undersea) plaaenames user agencies tceassist,in determining
the future disposition of the Office of Geography, Department w'
the Interior. You also pointed out that you had concluded thee,
the foreign placenames research conducted by the Office of
(leography is to some degree inconsistent with the central miss ons
of the Department of the interior, and that very similar reseaech
Is conducted elsewhere in the Federal Government.
We have decided to proceed immediately with a study to determile
the appropriate resources, financing method and organizational
arrangements for the conduct of all Federal foreign placenames
research. The study effort will be directed by Miss Hazel GutCey
of the Bureau's Office of Management and Organization and wiP be
6upported by the designated representatives of major foreign
elacenames research agencies, such as Interior and Defense, al ?I
major user agencies, such as the Department of State. We exywrt
to have the study completed by May 1, 1967..
Sincerely,
/s/ Sam Hughes
Phillip S. Hughes
Deputy Director
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1-,tachment t
23 9ruary l9 b(
STUDY CONCEPT
Problem: Determine the proper organizational assignment of tie function of
providing foreign names staff support to the Board on Geograpnic Names and
performing related services.
Stplii/ Outline:
Ascertain pertinent essential qualitative and quantitiv, support and/or
service requirements of:
a. BGN
b. Intelligence community
c. Other Federal agencies
d. General public
e. Foreign activities
P. Identify any other specific conditions, constraints, T,-.Lationships, etc.,
that act as essential parameters or characteristics that serv- as solution
criteria in addition to economics.
). Determine the resources required to provide these supp rt and service
functions as a separate irganizbional entity such as now exssts, breakdown
into kinds of activities, skiU, etc., and quantify resourcE's for each,
Inventory agencies or organizations that are now performing these same,
similar, or related work activi-Aes.
5
Determine the additional resources required by the aboie agencies or
organizations to assume the functions resulting from I. abov-, under the
conditions of 2. above, Resources are to be phased (a) immeliate, (b) one
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year hence, (c) two years hence. (Essential that the support and service
output levels of 3. and 5. be essentially equal, although methols may
differ.)
6. Formulate logical alternatives, with related resources cosi compar-
isons and significant related impacts on personnel, organizations, existing
legislation, etc.
1. Evaluate alternatives and recommend course of action.
Study Assignment: Suggest basic study as outlined be performed by qual-
ified contractor.
Due Date:
I. Study completion by 15 May 1967.
2 BOB decision announcement for FY 69 programming action by , June 1967.
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PERSONS INTERVIEWED
Duartment of the interior
Office of Geography
Attachmen1 F
L, Meredith F., Burrill, Director, and Executive Secretary, Board on
Geographic Names, Executive Secretary, Foreign Names Committee,
BGN.
Allen Belden, Chief, Besearch Division.
Geological Survey
9
Arthur A, Baker, Associate Director, Interior representatile on the
Board on Geographic Names, and Chairman, Domestic Names Committee,
BON.
George Whitmore, Chief', Topographic Division,
Jerome O. Kilmartin, Chief, Map Information Office, Topographic
Division, and Executive Secretary, Domestic Names Committe, BGN
Department of State
Robert D. Hodgson, Assistant Geographer and deputy member of 1)ard on
Geographic Names
Department of Defense
Representatives on Board of Geoaphic Names
STATINT
Assisl;ant, Directorate for Mapping, Chartlng
and Geodesy, Defense intelligence Agency.
Jack Martin, Director of the Maritime Safety Division, ficu-al
Oceanographic Office,
Robert Ota, Chief, Pe.learch ILvision, Det.
and Information Center-.
1, AeronauticD1 Chart
4, Frank Shepard, ,DupervLsor Cartographer, Map Analysis Divi ion, Army
STATINTL
Map Service,
Defense into Agency
1..
In Operations Specialist, SyDtems
Ana ysis Group, Policy
and Control Office, DIAAP.
STATINT STATINT
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Goordination and Integration Group, Policy and Control Of'ice, DIAAP.
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Duartment of the Arm
Paul Alexander, Department Chief, Department of Technical Services,
Army Map Service.
Allen Anderson, Cartographer,Mapping and Geodesy Division Corps of
Engineers.
Lt. Col. George Stukhart, Chief Engineer Activities Offic,
Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence.
Naval Oceanographic Office
Charles Rouse, Head, Geography Branch, Maritime Safety Divisi(m.
National Security Agency
Chief, Geography Branch.
Central Intelligence Agency
Information Retrieval
STATI NTL
STATI NTL
Operational Support
(five persons)
Office of Basic Intelligence
member, Board on eogTaphic Names and Chairmar of its
STATI NTL
Executive Committee,
foreign Installations
Militarz_Esmomic Research
STATI NTL
STATI NTL
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ralills Research
STATI NTL
Coordination and Processing of NIS Gazetteer Program
Gartograyhy
Library of
STATI NTL
STATI NTL
Walter W. Ristow, Associate Chief, Geography and Map Divisior, and
member of Board on Geographic Names.
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;.,tac.hment G
BOARD ON GEOGRAPHIC NAMES
G. Ethel Pearcy, Chairman
Meredith F. Burrill, Executive Secretary
Department of State G. Etzel Pearcy ,
The Geographer 1/
Robert D. Hodgson
Assistant Geographe-
Department of the Army Frank C. Shepard
Assistant Chief, Mae Analysis Division
Army Map Service
John P. Mack
Chief, Map Analysis Division
Army Map Service
Department of the Navy .................. John C. Martin
Director, Maritime iafety Division
Charles D. Rouse
Head of Geography Branch
Naval Oceanographic Office
Post Office Department ... Boyd W. Fielder
Director of Post Ofice Changes Branch
Department of the Inter cr
0?,
?? ?
Madeline Biscoe
Assistant Director
Post Office Changee Branch
.. Arthur A. Baker
Assosicate Director
Geological Survey
Robert R. Lyddan
Assistant Director
Geological Survey
Department of Agriculture .... 04000 Edward P. Cliff
Clljef, Forest Seryt-e
Fred W. Grover
Director, Land Clasiification Division
Forest Service
-17m?8t ageg3ia-WATOPRIIISEE UA 0200 ?
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Department of Commerce . A. Joseph Wraight
Chief Geographer
Coast and Geodetic Arrvey
Government Printing Office ...........Aaron S. Blauer
Foreman of Proof SeAion
Library of Congress .... ? ?
. ? 0
Leslie P. Cox, Jr,
Assistant Chief, L otype Section
Walter W. Ristow
Associate Chief
Geography and Nap 10.riSiOn
Charles C. Bead
Principal Cataloge,
Department of the Air Force Edward M. Thompson
Assistant Chief
Aeronautical Mart Division
Aeronautical Chart and Information Center
Department of Defense
Central Intelligence Agency .....
Robert Y. Ota
Chief, Research DATision
Aeronautical Chart and Information Center
STATINTL
Assistant Directorate for Mapping,
Charting, and Geodesy
Defense intelligence Agency
Mapping CoordinaGion
STATI NTL
Defense Tntelligerce Agency
STATI NTL
The Board is assisted by four standing committees of members: The
Executive Committee, the Domestic Names Committee, the Fore ,gn Names Committee,
and the Pnblications Committee,
Advi3ory Committees
Advikory Committee on Ant.arfic Names
Dr. Kenneth J. Bertram., Professor at Catholic Tnf.versity :hairman)
Dr. A. P. Crary, National Science Foundation
Mr. Herman R. iis, National Archives
Dr. 'Henry M. Dater, U.S. Naval Support For:e Antarctica
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Advisory Committee on Arabic and Persian
Dr. Harold Glidden, Department of State
Eivisory Committee on Undersea Names
Or. John V. Byrne, National Science Foundation
M. Fredrick Edvalson, Naval Oceanographic Office
Dr. John B. Hersey, Office of Naval Research
Dr. Harry S. Ladd, Geological Survey
Mr. Charles L. Rouse, Naval Oceanographic Office (Acting Chairman)
Dr. Joshua I. Tracey, Jr., Geological Survey
Pr. I. Eugene Wallen, Smithsonian Institution
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ReocaL%-h
Branch
Section
ORGANIZATION - OFFICE OF GEOGRAPHY
Director
Real_oaal
Section
I.
-
Administrative
Branch
Secticn
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=
Attachment I
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March 10, 1-67
3TAFTING PATTERN
OFFICE OF GEOGRAPHY
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
Supervisory Geographer (Direftor) GS-15
Secretary Stenog,rapher GS-7
kE3EARCH BRANCH
Supervisory Geographer (Chiet) GS-14
Secretary Typing GS-6
Linguistics _Section
Scientific Linguist (Chief) GS-13
Scientific Linguist (2) GS-12
Scientific Linguist GS-9
Research Analyst (Chiaese) GS-8
Research Analyst (Persian) GS-8 Indeti; Ito
Regional Research Section
Supervisory Geographer (Chiel) GS-13
Geographer (4) GS-12
Geographer GS-11
Editing and ProcessinA Sec tic n
Supervisory Geographer (Chief) GS-12
Supervisory Geographer (Asst. Chief) GS-11
Supervisory Geographer (Area) (12) GS-9
Geographer (6) GS-7
Geographer (4) GS-5
Research Assistant (Chinese) (2) GS-7 Tempoliry
Clerk Typist GS-1 Tempo l try
Special Index Clerk (3) GS-4
Clerk Typist GS-4
Source Materials Section
Supervisory Librarian (Acting Chief)
Library Assistant
Library Assistant
Clerk Typist
GS-9
GS-7
GS-5
GS-3 Tempo] iry
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Chiet
Administrative
Administrative
Clerk Typist
Olfice Services
Mail and File C
Messenger
ASSiSLmIL
ASSiSLAnt
Clerk
Lerk
ADMiNISTRATIVE BRANCH
GS-ll
GS-9
GS-7
GS-3
GS-5
GS-3
GS -2
Tempolary
Vacan
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attachment
ruoCESSES INVOLVED IN THE STANDARDIZATION
OF AOREIGN NAMES
J3ackroimLt
As of April 1967 the Office of Geography had in its fiLes about 3.5
million name cards of two general types: (1) decisions and standard names
approved by the Board on Geographic Names for Government use as prescribed.
in P.L. 242, 80th Congress, 1st Session, and (2) unapproved variant names
and spellings encountered in the research performed to establish the decisions
and standard names. The ratio of variant names to standard names is as low
i0 to 15 percent for some areas and ranges to well over )0 percent in
others.
More than 3.25 million of the names have been publishee in over 125
gazetteers covering all foreign or non-domestic areas of thc world, includ-
ing Antarctica. A few of the gazetteers are as much as 15 years old, but
many of them have been revised and enlarged within the past JD years. Gen-
erally speaking, the number of names now standardized, when supplemented by
the Board's inquiries service, is sufficient for most public and private
requirements except those of the military cartographic establishments.
Standardization processes
The 'Board's standard name files are prepared and mainta tied by the
Office of Geography in the foll lying manner:
Scheduling oflazetteer production: Yearly gazetteer schedules
are established by the supporting agency, taking into account the known needs
and priorities of other agencies, and with the advice of the Office of Geography
which determines the degree of obsolescence of existing gazetteers and the
availability of sources which C&Ja be used to improve or enlaige them. The
size and number of gazetteers scheduled for any year is dependent upon the
available funds, staff, and the linguistic difficulty and adequacy of source
materials for the areas ,oncerned. Recent schedules have called for from
eight to twelve gazetteers containing 215,000 to 280,000 entres a year.
30N policy on standardization: It is basic BGN poll %y to
standardize names as they are officially used in the country ,r area con-
cerned.
3. Romanlzation sytems: Ahere the country or area doe., not officially
use the roman alphabet, it is necessary to provide a romanizatdon system by
which names written in the local writing system maybe converted into the roman
alphabet.
There are two general methods for converting other writing systems into
the roman alphabet; namely, transliteration and transcription. Translitera-
tion is based on a letter for letter transfer to the roman alenabet; tran-
scription is based on a sound for sound transfer. Transliteration
La used when there is a close correspondence between the sounds of a language
and the symbols used to represent them (cyrillic alphabets). Transcription
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STATI NTL
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is used (1) when there is insufficient correspondence bet
(Thai), or (2) when the writing system is non-alphabetic
transliteration better reflects the writing of the other
itself to unambiguous mechanical use by persons lacking
language, transcription is used only When transliteratim
In devising romanization systems for BGN use, Staff
the writing and sound system of the language concerned t,
transliteration or transcription is appropriate. Many 113(
a compromise between the two types.
To
The following factors are considered in arriving at
ween sound and symbol
(Chinese). Since
Language and lends
knowledge of the
is not feasible.
Linguists analyse
determine whether
N systems represent
a BGN system:
Degree of relation of sound to symbol in the Inagnage concerned;
b. Correspondence between the sounds of the donor .anguage and
.Kaglish;
NUmer cal comparison of symbols used in writing &nglish and the
other writing system, which affects the kind am nuMber of
diacritical marks needed in the romanization syetem;
d. The best compromise between complete reversibil
diacritical marks necessary to achieve it;
ty and the use of
characteristics of existing systems, the extent to Which there
may be a vested interest in their continued use and the feasi-
bility of modifying existing systems; and
f, Preference of the government and scholars of thc country whose
Language is to be romanized. In some cases the other government
has an official romanization system of its own, the merits of
Which must be considered by the BGN.
arrive at the best judgment in regard to the above factors, Staff Linguists
confer or correspond with other experts in the language aacerned, both in
nn H nut of frovernmpnt hpre and abroad_
Systems that have been fully worked out and concurril in by all interested
parties are presented to the FNC, the Board and the Secretary of the Interior
for approval.
I. Procedures: Procedures for the standardization if names in each
area are prepared by Regionel Geographers with the assistance of Linguists.
The procedures are based on an analysis of maps and othei source materials
for the area concerned and of the linguistic and geographic problems which
can be anticipated. They are designed to minimize the e(st of preparing a
quality gazetteer containing the desired coverage, density, and variety of
names by routinizing the research, eliminating unnecessaTy steps, and limiting
the number of sources consulted. The procedures are dislefbuted to the Board
as a matter of information and to invite comments and suggestions.
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5. File processing: The Editing and Processing Sc
enlarges the existing standard names files according to
procedures, recording on individual name cards the usage
sources and noting the proper designation, coordinate lo,
trative division of each place or feature. The resultan
reviewed within the Editing and Processing units for ace
and conformity with procedures. Linguists and Regional
and assist in the name processing as required.
.tion revises and
the schedule and the
of the specified
stion, and adminis-
? name cards are
;racy, completeness,
eagraphers advise
Geographic-linguistic review; All standard name cards are reviewed
by a Linguist for conformity to BGN policy and, where ne-essary, to provide
the proper BO romenization from nonroman-alphabet wrinieg systems. A
Regional Geographer reviews representative cards to dete-mine conformity to
procedures and the appropriateness of the terns used to eesignate the entities
named, to gain detailed knowledge of the adequacy and Quality of the various
sources, and to inform himself of geographic problems re ating to the nomencla-
ture of the area fox future use.
7. Policy considerations; If the systematic geographic-linguistic
review of name cards indicates that, a new or revised poiJcy should be brought
to the attention of the Board for its consideration, a proposed policy, with
supporting data, is drafted and laid before the Foreign. names Committee. If
a new policy is adopted by the FNC, it is referred to th full Board and the
Secretary of the Interior for approval and implemented i; preparing the new
file.
d. Name file approval When a file has been procet
with the pertinent procedures, source materials, romaniz,
Board policy, it is presented to the FNC with all necess,
information for approval. The FNC ordinarily also revien
individually the conventional names proposed by the Staf'
Publicat1on7 The publication of a gazetteer of
_
approved by the BGN involves coding each name to indicate
to which it applies, the alministrative unit in which a t
map references on which the feature may be located by it
a recognizable variant; cross-referencing variant names;
preparing a foreword; punching and verifying IBM cards; ;
review and correction of listing; final listing; and dia(
before the final product is sent to the GPO for printing,
distribution.
10. Advisory eommittees For areas for which there
committees, the above procedural outline is modified as
a, Arabic and Persian: In independent Arabic and I'
areas a percentage of the names presents linguie
which are referred to the Board's Advisory Commi
and Persian for solution. Names processed throe
are listed en the minutes of the Committee's nice
Wto tfte fiee, and presented to the FNC for appr
graph o, abeve,
sed in accordance
tion system, and
ny explanatory
3 and approves
for each area.
3tandard names
the type of entity
Lace is located, and
standard name or
alphabetizing;
reliminary listing;
ritical marking,
binding and
Ire BGN advisory
ersian-speaking
%ic problems
stee or Arabic
edl this eommittee
Angs, incorporated
-mai as in para-
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_
b. Undersea Features: Names of these entities are ndividualiy
referred to the Advisory Committee on Undersea Features (ACUF)
for proper application and recommendation. They are then
presented to the Board or the Executive Committe = and to the
Secretary of the Interior for final approval. A ;proved names are
issued in special listings.
c. Antartic Names: These names are individuall ref rred to the
Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (ACAN). A _:ase brief is
prepared for each entity showing name, coordinat-s, descriptive
location, designation, for whom and by whom name, expedition, etc.
Names recommended by the ACAN are presented to t,e Board and
Secretary for approval. Approved names are pub1 shed in gazetteers.
Inviries
Name files are supplemented and corrected as necessary through the Board's
inquiries service. If the required names are not in the ile or the file
information is suspect, new name cards are made or the oL. ones supplemented,
following the same general processes as are described in Haragraphs 3, 4, and
5 under gazetteers, above. Newer sources and revised poi cies are used as
required. These names are g*J.ven out for cartographic and other use on request
but are not ordinarily published until the issuance of a ew gazetteer.
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Attachment IC
INQUIRIES
Office of Geography
Report from July 1 through December 30,
GOVERNMENT
1966
Verified
Not
Verified Total
Agriculture, Department of
6
11
1
7
0
0
13
11
1
Agricultural Research Service
Economic Research Service
Foreign Agricultural Service
National Agricultural Library
9
0
9
Air Force, Department of the
38
1
39
Anic
Army, Department of the
AMS
8
2
10
Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence,
Office of the
7
0
7
Chief of Military History, Office of the
32
9
41
Engineers, Corps of
1
0
1
Personnel Research and Assessment Group
0
1
1
Walter Reed Army Medical Center
5
0
5
Atomic Energy Commission
5
0
5
Central Intelligence Agency
363
28
391
Commerce, Department of
Business and Defense Services Administration
3
1
4
Census, Bureau of
65
0
65
Environmental Science Services Administration
3
0
3
Export Control, Office of
2
0
2
International Commerce, Bureau of
9
0
9
National Bureau of Standards
7
0
7
Public Roads, Bureau of
1
0
1
Defense, Department of
Assistant Secretary of Defense (International
Security Affairs), Office of the
2
0
2
Defense Communications Agency
0
1
1
DIA
1,015
82
1,097
Defense Supply Agency
2
0
2
Joint Chiefs of Staff, Office of the
1
1
2
National Security Agency
15
0
15
Naval Support Force
1
0
1
Records Analysis Group
0
1
1
Federal Aviation Agency
5
1
6
Federal Maritime Commission
8
1
9
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GOVERNMENT
Federal Reserve System
Not
Verified Verified Total
1 0 1
General Services Administration
34
1
16
3
o
o
37
.1
16
Data and Financial Management, Office of
Library
National Archives and Records Service
HealttLEducation and Welfare Department or
International Surveys
1
0
1
National Library of Medicine
20
1
21
House of Representatives
1
0
Interior, Department of the
Commercial Fisheries, Bureau of
2
0
2
Fish and Wildlife Service
14
8
22
Geological Survey
57
9
66
Library Services
4
o
4
Mines, Bureau of
83
22
105
Secretary, Office of the
2
0
2
Water Resources Research, Office of
1
0
1
Labor, Department of
2
0
2
Library of Congress
Defense Research Division
309
20
329
Descriptive Cataloging Division
66
6
72
General Reference and Bibliography Division
2
0
2
Geography and Map Division
8
3
11
Information Office
1
o
1
Information Systems Office
o
1
1
Orientalia Division
29
o
29
Processing Department
1
0
1
Shared Cataloging Division
1
1
2
Subject Cataloging Division
110
18
128
Union Cataloging Division
2
o
2
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
13
0
13
National Science-Foundation
7
0
7
Navy, Department of the
Air Systems COmmand
1
o
1
National Oceanographic Data Center
1
o
1
Naval Intelligence, Office of
4
o
4
Naval Research, Office of
o
o
1
Naval Weapons, Bureau of
6
o
6
Oceanographic Office
798
8
806
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GOVERNMENT
Not
Verified Verified
Total
Post Office Department
1
0
1
Smithsonian Institution
4
2
6
State, Department of
1,898
12
1,910
Treasury, Department of the
1
0
1
Library
United States Information Agencx
1
0
1
United States Tariff Commission
1
0
1
Veterans Administration
1
0
1
Total
5,130
251
5,381
MISCELLANEOUS
American Association for the Advancement of Science
1
0
1
American Congress on Surveying and Mapping
1
0
1
American Geographical Society
209
15
224
American Meteorological Society
15
1
16
American University
6
0
6
Arlington County Library
2
0
2
Brookings Institution
46
16
62
California Institute of Technology
9
0
9
Catholic University of America
2
10
12
Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory
1
0
1
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Incorporated
34
0
34
Field Enterprises Educational Corporation
803
8
811
Genealogical Society of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints, Incorporated
George Washington University
Harvard University
John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute (Canada)
1
18
1
1
0
4
0
0
1
22
1
1
Magnavox Company (Ft. Wayne, Indiana)
1
0
1
Martin Brothers Importers (Australia)
1
0
1
Maurer, Fleisher, Zon and Associates
1
0
1
National Academy of Sciences
4
0
4
National Cathedral
1
0
1
National Geographic Society
59
1
60
Polish International Exchange Service (Warsaw)
1
0
1
Radio Corporation of America
1
0
1
Rand McNally and Company
42
1
43
Santa Fe Preparatory School
14
4
18
Scripta Technica0 Incorporated
29
1
30
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MISCELLANEOUS
: CIA-RDP78-05927A000100210012-3
Not
Verified Verified
Total
Personal:
DeKinder, Mr. John E.
o
2
2
Dukes, Mr. William
1
o
1
Fayen, Mr. Philip
7
o
7
Felkel, Mr. H. Warren
1
o
1
Flach, Mr. V. H.
9
o
9
Gelle, Mr. Louis
1
o
1
Gould, Dr. James W.
13
o
13
Hallgarten, Mr.
1
o
1
Markel, Mr. Morey
1
o
1
Raisz, Dr. Erwin
1
o
1
Schwab, Mr. Charles, Jr.
1
o
1
Snell, Mr. Dewitt S.
4
o
4
Stowers, Mr. E. G.
1
o
1
Utley, Professor Francis Lee
8
1
9
Total
1,353
64
1,417
Grand Total
6483
315
6,798
)4.
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Attachment L
DISTRIBUTION OF GAZETAARS1/
1. Government Printing Office - Direct distribution to Depositary
Libraries in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Canal Zona
2. Office of Geography - To miscellaneous libraries, societies,
institutions, foundations, and individuals in the United
States and many foreign countries
453
150
3. Office of Geography - Retained for official use and distribu-
tion upon an individual request basis - Approximately 200
4. Central Intelligence Agency 430
5. Department of State ? ? ? ? ? OOOOOOOOOOOOO ? ? * 0 0 0 16
6. Department oP Defense 221
T. Department of the Interior 13
8. Department of Commerce 6
9. Department of Agriculture 3
10. Atomic Energy Commission 1
11. Smithsonian Institution 1
12. U. S. Information Agency 1
13. U. S. National Archives and Records Center 1
1/ In addition to the standard distribution as shown any one of the intelligence
agencies may obtain the punched cards from CIA and print additional copies of
a given gazetteer, or may order additional copies for the initial printing.
22/ Including 353 to the Records Center.
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