ARCHIVES, HISTORY, AND RECORDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030043-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 5, 2000
• Sequence Number: 43
• Publication Date: April 24, 1972
• Content Type: MF

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Approved For Releasc000/08/04: CIA-RDP83-00764R0004Q3OO - 72-2348
24 May 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR: Executive Director -Comptroller
SUBJECT: Archives, History, and Records
1. This paper, in conjunction with my 1$ May comments on
Annual Chronicles, completes the Directorate response to your
memorandum of 9 May 1972.
2. The revised draft accommodates several important points
expressed in my 25 April 1972 memorandum. Specifically, I
refer to the transcendent priority accorded Records Management
and the transfer of the Records Management Board and its Chair-
man under your command authority. As you might suppose,
however, I still harbor certain reservations about the program.
The implied association, even interdependence, among the
program components -- archives, history, and records -- would
be better balanced and more easily managed, if treated separately
with their inter-relationships pointed up by appropriate cross-
referencing.
3. I notice the boards and officers that constitute the current
records management apparatus are apparently to be retained.
These have proved to be cumbersome and ineffective in the past,
and I urge again that they be reviewed carefully before a decision
is made to keep them.
4. While it is self-evident that archival material derives
from records, the CS is far from sanguine that it can be identified
on an annual basis without benefit of perspective afforded by the
passage of time. Should the present guideline prevail, however,
the CS probably would have to keep duplicate "archival records"
so as not to interfere with normal exploitation, retirement, and
disposition of records. This can be done, but it does not appear
to be the most efficient method. It is reassuring to note that the
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archive: part of the program does not seem to be fully formulated
and is, presumably, open to future input front CS part.icipar~t:~ who
arc familiar with CS dOCUmcntatjon and security requirements. In
;c'ncral, I suggest that you appoint an intel+-lairectoratc working
:;roue, composed of officers with appropriate expertise, to Come
>p with recommended criteria as to what constitutes archival
material.
5. The CS historical program should be essentially autonomous
under the general guidance and coordination of the CIA historian,
or -- if a centrally directed program is to continue -- the CS should
participate in overall management. Either the CIA historian or
his deputy should come from the CS, and a CS representative should
participate in reviewing the preparation of ove'ra'll and other Direc-
torate histories that bear on DDP activity. Already, there is a
diffusion of CS information (identifying operations, methods, assets,
agents and staff personnel) in other Directorates (primarily DDS)
and overall Agency histories. As of now, the CS does not review
drafts or these histories, does not receive published copies, and
has no voice in and is not informed as to their use and readership.
6. Beyond the purely historical objectives of preserving a
record of CS activities over the years, the CS has its own internal
interests in preparation of historical papers. To be sure, the CS
contribution to overall Agency history is, and will continue to be,
substantial. Beyond that, however, the CS should be free to prepare
papers for its own purposes, on subjects of its own selection, and in
its own manner.
7. Preparation of "catch-up" chronicles of CS units will in
itself be a substantial task. To illustrate the magnitude of this
pending effort, please find attached a list of uncompleted papers
scheduled in the current historical program. The names of writers
are listed with those in preparation or partially completed. If
field stations are to be covered in subsequent up-dates, and I
realize that this is no longer an Agency-level requirement, there
would be an additional dozen or so stations which do not appear on
this schedule.
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,}. Perhaps too inuetI discussion has been directed toward
specific, points and, in closing, I wish to recall tin observation made
in my 25 April paper. The current system, requires improvement,
perhaps extensive overhaul, but at no point have we, in lil;ht of
experience, paused to judge exhaustively those pro~;ranl aspects
that are worth retaining and those that should be modified. The
t)ror;ra1mm is so important to the execution of our business that I
feel we should be as certain of our direction as is feasible --
and one way to obtain this assurance is to suspend the current
correspondence aimed at arriving at a final draft and ask those
Agency officers most experienced in these Several fields, singly
or in panel, to study these questions and, forward their,recommen-
dations concerning the program structure, procpciures, and guidance
for use by the Deputy Directors and yourself. With their solicited
views in hand, we should be able to issue directives that will best
accommodate needs and resources.
Thomas H. Karamessines
Deputy Director for Plans
Attachments:
As Stated
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