MACHINE SUPPORT DIVISION HISTORY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00951R000200200005-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 22, 2000
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: October 24, 1966
• Content Type: MF

CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2000/08/17 : CIA-RDP84-0095 1R000200200005-5 Ift%
24 October 1966
MEMORANDUM FOR: Mr. Walter Pforzheimer
OCR Member DDI Historical Board
SUBJECT: Machine Support Division History
The Machine Support Division was first organized as the Central
Index, Reference Center, Office of Reports and Estimates, in March 1947.
The primary mission of the Division at that time was to serve as the Central
Intelligence Agency's memory unit which would maintain indexes on all available
reports and other documents of a foreign intelligence nature and to provide
service from these indexes.
The first steps in fulfilling this memory function were taken when
punch card methods utilizing conventional IBM equipment together with especially
designed and constructed (Finch Telecommunication equipment) Intellofax machines
were successfully applied to the problem.
Over the years with the increase in volume of documents received and
the emergence of unique requirements in certain areas, the need for more
versatile and flexible methods and for machines better adapted or especially
designed for information searching became apparent. Therefore, it was in
this area the Division spent a considerable amount of it's effort in encourag-
ing R & D by industry and the in-house design and construction of prototype
equipment. Since the Division History mainly evolves around this type of
operation and in several cases the Division made zaajor contribution to industry
in the development of some of the more prominent office copying and information
handling equipment, it is suggested the history of the Division be written along
these lines.
For your consideration I an listing below some of the historical
highlights on the activities of the Division:
25X1 A LIST OF HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS : 25X1 A
This equipment, developed in 1948 by
25X1A , partially at the Division request, was designed
specifically for making 1 to 1 reproductions to be used throughout the
Agency.
25X1A
2. developed in
25X1A 1950 by the was a direct result
of the Division interest in a process that had the ability to transfer
an image to almost any type of paper or offset master.
Approved For Release 2000/08/17 : CIA-RDP84-00951 R000200200005-5
CONFIDENTIAL
 UNFIDENTJAL
25X1A
Approved For Release 2000/08/17 : CaA-RDP84-00951 R000200200005-5
SUBJECT: Machine Support Division History
3. Research and Development contract; (1947 - 1950) between
25X1A and 25X1A
4. Copymaker Model ^, developed in 1951 by the
25X1A was designed and built according to the Division specification.
5. 1951 through 1954 a complete family of microfilm equipment was
25X1A designed and constructed for the Division by
6. 1954 through 1960: The Minicard equipment developed by
was a joint R & D contract between
25X1A 25X1A
25X1A
-f' , ""' 25X1 A; Qr2? _ at our rpa uest_ designed and built
25X1A 7. 1961: built three "DARE" machines
for our Intellgflsystem and Biographic Register Program.
')r-V?1 A C L HH
a to reproduce rom the DARE Intellofax card a full size
9 x 14 Xerographic print.
25X1A who is now retired and was Chief of the Division
during it's infancy or of NPIC, who can retire within
25X1A the next year, would possibly be interested in compiling and writing the
history of the Division.
25X1A
Ch , i sion
Approved For Release 2000/08/17 : CIA-RDP84-00951 R000200200005-5
CONFIDENTIAL