HIC CONTINUITY AND OTHER CULTURAL ASSETS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85B01152R000200250017-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 22
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 1, 2007
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: October 3, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

D/OTE
1026 CofC
TO: (OM'iew d?ignulion, room nambw, and
building)
DDA
7D24, HQS.
1
O 93
fl ~9
L5
d
p224
7n) F
F, i
note (attached) regarding the
HIC and other Agency "cultural
assets," I am forwarding a
folder containing a memorandum
written by and STAT
also containing various backgrouna
papers relating to this matter.
This is probably a case of
"everything you ever wanted to
know about the HIC and much
more," but I think it will be
useful to you in preparation for
any upcoming discussions on the
matter. I believe that the
so-called Agency "cultural"
activities with the exception
of the Academic Associates Program
could and should be made a part
of the Center for the Study of
Intelligence. Having said that,
I am well aware of the political
considerations involved and do
not really anticipate that such
an amalgamation will be possible.
It does remain a worthwhile
goal, however.
On the question of a possible
replacement foras STAT
consi a Win. I believe that
given his intellect and interests,)
he could do a first-clas 4ob in
that role. STAT
 z13 1 is
Approved For Release 2007/11/01: CIA-RDP85BO1152R000200250017-3
 Approved For Release 2007/11/01: CIA-RDP85BOl152R000200250017-3
(Name, office symbol, room number,
building, Agency/Post)
D/Personnel
REMARKS
1 Pls see attached comment from DDA.
and of approvals, concurrences, disposals,
c
DO NOT use this form acaaa RECORD
OP ZONAL FORM 41 (Rev. 7-76)
Prercrlbnd GSA
FPMf (41 Cb) 101-11.206
 Approved For Release 2007/11/01 CIA-RDP85B01152R000200250017-3
ROUTING AND TRANSMITTAL SLIP
TO (Name, office symbol, ro
building. Agency/Post)
ction
p royal
s Requested
Irculate
omment
1Coordination
Sae Me
Signature
1 - Pis see attached comment from DDA.
DO NOT use this form as a RECORD of approvals, concurrences, disposals,
clearances, and similar actions
OPTIONAL FORM 41 (Rev. 7-76)
Pntrribed 4Y GSA
FPMR (41 CFR) 101-11.206
 Dos
A"ns.
4 on.
 Approved For Release 2007/11/01: CIA-RDP85B01152R000200250017-3
DATE
YftAIVSMITI r-L SLIP
TO: TA
ROOM NO. BUILDING
REMARKS:
FROM:
ROOM NO.
BUILDING
EXTENSION
1 55 241
REPLACES FORM 36-8
WHICH MAY BE USED.
Approved For Release 2007/11/01 : CIA-RDP85B01152R000200250017-3
 Approved For Release 2007/11/01 : CIA-RDP85BOl152ROO0200250017-3
Central Intelligence Agency y
Washington, D.C. 20505
Ems} '`f.S7C~
NOTE FOR THE DDA
DDI
DDO
DDS&T
IG
D/PAO
SUBJECT: HIC Continuity and "Other Cultural Assets"
o I summarized in a memo to the DCI my findings and
conclusions concerning HIC, the History Program,
Center for Intelligence Studies, CIA Academic
Coordinator, the CT Academic Associates Program,
et al.
o The DDCI and DCI accepted my suggestions that
they:
"a. Affirm the validity of the several activitie
described above but keep them organization-
ally separate, retaining, at least for now,
the Academic Associates Program as a unit
in the Office of Personnel;
b. Reassess the DCI Fellows program in the
Center for Intelligence Studies; and
c. Charge me with ensuring a continuing dia-
logue among Personnel, Training and Public
Affairs so that we know what we're doing
and can convey that as fact to individual
campuses."
Follow-on action, then, is the DDA's, with
regard to the DCI Fellows program and the
Approved For Release 2007/11/01 : CIA-RDP85BOl152ROO0200250017-3
 Approved For Release 2007/11/01: CIA-RDP85BOl152R000200250017-3
- c -
Academic Associates; DDI/OCR for Curator HIC
replacement after0 retirement [a
specific candidate was identified in my memo
to the DCI]; and D OPA for CIA Academic Coordinator
replacement after retirement.
25X1
25X1
 Approved For Release 2007/11/01: CIA-RDP85BO1152R000200250017-3
3tuuiirtu Alu Irtnna i ~L J11T :, Uv: wv~
TO: (Name, office symbol, room number,
building, Agency/Post)
1. EO/DDA
Initials
Date
2. DDA
s.
a D/OTE
1026 CoC Bldg
Action
File
Note and Return
wlpproyal
For Clearance
Per Conversation
s P.equested
For Correction
Prepare Reply
^
vculata
For Your Information
See Me
omment
Investigate
Signature
!Coordination
Justi
i we are intrested. Suggest we bring it up-
at DDA Staff Meeting 1 November.
DO NOT use this form as a RECORD of approvals, concurrences, disposals,
clearances, and similar actions
FROM: (Name, org. symbol, Agency/Post)
James Fl. McDonald 1
ADDA/JHMcllonald:cn (31 Oct 83)
OPTIONAL FORM 41 (Rev. 7-76)
Proscribed by GSA
FPM R (41 CFR) 101-11.206
Distruhiton:
Original YRS
- Addressee (w/att)
1
- DDA Subject
1
- DDA Chrono
1
- ADDA Chrono
1
- CMS
 Approved For Release 2007/11/01: CIA-RDP85BOl152R000200250017-3
DD/A Registry
\vcdth ..n, 6.... [052 `f
NOTE FOR: DDA-e
DOI
DDO
DDS&T
IG
D/PAO
83-_SE(io/ ~
SUBJECT: Suggestions for HIC Continuity
Attached are a package from[ to
the Director and a DCI action note to me, seeking
a candidate to replace Ed when he retires, and
deliberation on HIC, the CIA Historian, Studies
in Intel licence "and other cultural assets."
2. There is pending a DDA proposal to transfer
retir"s. Also, a cowbination of HIC an the ci?
Kisturian hen been suggested; location Of the
'.!isl:o:ian under the Executive Secretariat has
been questioned; et al.
3. Take a look at the attached, then we'll get
together in an EXCON or some other forum. In the
interim, if you have suggestions for
successor, let inc knot,.
 Approved For Release 2007/11/01: CIA-RDP85BOl152R000200250017-3
tNENOPAiOUil FOR: Executive Director
FROi1: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Suggestions for HIC Continuity
I am sympathetic with the suggestion in this memorandum which
views Historical Intelligence Collection as an asset which I wouldn't
want to see broken up. I would like suggestions as to who might be
available to take it over. We might at the same time review the
program of other cultural assets around here, the Studies in Intelligence
the Historian shop, etc., and also think a little aboutthe value of
what they are doing, what we are getting out of ttem, and how they
fit together.
Attachment:
iier,orandum dated 15 August 1983
ADAIUISTRATIVE - OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Approved For Release 2007/11/01: CIA-RDP85BOl152R000200250017-3
 Approved For Release 2007/11/01: CIA-RDP85B01152R000200250017-3
PERSONAL MENIORAND'UI4 FOR THE DIRECTOR
FROM : Curator, Historical Intelligence
SUBJECT: Suggestions for HIC Continuity
1. This memorandum is for your information, and suggests certain
considerations to assure the continuity; independence and integrity of
the CIA Historical Intelligence Collection.
2. Background information regarding the Collection is attached
for your reference.
3. I will be retiring from the Agency at the end of the year,
and believe the DCI might wish to become acquainted with several
issues concerning the Collection and the suggestions of its Curator at
a time such cannot be misinterpreted by so.:e as self-serving.
4. Suggestions and discussion:
a. I suggest the DCI, with such consultation as he deems ap-
propriate, appoint a new Curator, Historical lntelllgenc?, at an early
date. I suggest further that, if possible, the appointee be an SiS-
level with considerable Agency experience and institutional kno'.,led;a,
preferably one with extensive clandestine services or technical col-
lection background (the major service p;-iorities of HIC). Considera-
tion should also be given to establishing a two or three year appoint-
ment cycle for the Curator.
Discussion: I have recommended an STS, carrying the slot
on his or her back, to assure both the independence of
the Curator and to obtain the level of institutional
knowledge and experience required of the position. The
existing slot, GS-14, I believe, will not serve these
considerations.
(In my case, the abrupt end of security-counterintel-
ligence during the investigative period made the !goad
institutional knowledge I had acquired in that work
eminently available. I sought the appointment aggres-
siv-1v. and the endorser,-at of such as Jim Angleton,
secured it.
My situation was decidedly unique and provided the exper-
tise needed to meet the increased demands of the pesi-
 Approved For Release 2007/11/01: CIA-RDP85BO1152R000200250017-3
Administrative - Official Use Only
tion. As I have been reminded constantly, the work of
the Curator does not serve directly t'< duties and
functions of the host office,, and it ;:as been un-;willing
to enhance the slot. I believe that now a more senior
grade level will be necessary.
I have suggested a limited term of appointment he
instituted in the belief that a periodic refreshing of
institutional knowledge is more desirable in the post
than continuity. This would also permit appointment op-
portunities among highly qualified officers near thr' end
of their careers, thus giving the Agency one last oppor-
tunity to exploit and profit from their institutional
knowledge.
The writer has proposed such an appointment he soon
to provide the new Curator--the third in the 27-year his-
tory of the Collection--sufficient overlap for fanailiari-
zation and "on-the-job training," by his or her predeces-
sor. I have no ego problem with being replaced, and
working for, a more senior successor in my remaining
months with the organization.
b. I suggest this transition be exploited as an opportunity to
provide the Collection with a protective enviro.J. nt.
Discussion: B cause the Collection's custo er and
activities are at once foreign to the traditional ac-
tivities of the host office, I have confirmed that on at
least one occasion a proposal was advanced that the Col-
lection be elimin ted ae a means of reducing costs and
recovering both slots and space. A later thouht, also
reported to me, is to reclaim the two positions and to
integrate much of the Collection with the main library at
the time of my retirement, i.e. when the Collection would
he most vulnerable.
This transition period might also be the occasion
for attempts by other components to absorb the Collection
to meet specialized needs. Although benefiting the
receiving component, this would have the unfortunate
effect of eliminating broad Agency access to its impor-
tant knowledge base. During my period I was successful,
in small part, in the back-stage defeat of proposals that
would have placed the Collection under Public Affairs or
the History Staff.
In the former instance, I had little doubt the Col-
lection's mission would have been redirected almost ex-
clusively to research for the Publications Review Board
Administrative - Official Use Only
Approved For Release 2007/11/01: CIA-RDP85BO1152R000200250017-3
 Approved For Release 2007/11/01: CIA-RDP85B01152R000200250017-3
-3-
and for response to external inquiries, tasks HIC per-
forms for Public Affairs on a regular basis. In the
latter case, I feared the Collection would be converted
to a research arr., for the writing of histories and
referencing historical inquiries, tasks with which HIC
sometimes assists.
With either, although I era on extremely friendly
terms with the senior managers of the two functions, I
feared the principal customer base, the clandestine serv-
ices and others, would either be given reduced service or
be reluctant to avail themselves of the Collection be-
cause of the more overt functions of such a new host.
At the time of the last Inspector General review, a
senior inspector stated, "It is obvious that HIC does not
belong in OCR. Where do you think it should he?" I was
in total accord with his first statement, but could sug-
gest no alternative. I have given it a great deal of
thought in recent months, and suggest these alternatives
for your consideration:
(1) Assign the Collection administratively under
the Executive Director, with OCR continuing to provide
the space and acquisition/cataloging services as it does
now for other specialized holdings in th Agency. This,
of course, would be the ideal protectiv environ,toat.
(2) The Director, Center for the Study of Intel-
ligence, OTE, has indicated his desire to acquire the
Collection, and tells me he has already broached the idea
with the Executive Director. With the clear proviso that
the Collection would not be converted primarily to a re-
search arm for work done at the Center or for OTE, this
is an acceptable solution. Again, OCR would be expected
to continue to provide the space and acquisition/catalog-
ing services. An 51S-rank for the new Curator would be
an invaluable guarantee such an arrangement would work
without prejudice to other I'_IC custon!ars.
(3) Affirmation of interest by the DCI and the ap--
pointmz-nt of an SIS--rank officer as the new Curator would
permit the Collection to rem'in unthreatened in OCR for
the tine being. This would be the easiest to implement,
albeit only a temporary solution.
C. I suggest that in any transition as described above the
staf{ing be restructured, raising the grade level of the Assistant to
the Curator and adding a clerk-typist. I offer that an Assistant at
the Gs--09/11 level and a clerk-typist at the GS 05/06 level would
 provide the minimum support necessary to the new Curator under present
conditions and service levels.
Discussion: The HIC reference system is not automated, a
situation not of my choice. The storage and retrieval of
intelligence materials is done as it would have been done
25, 50 or 100 years ago--knowledge, memory, 3x5 cards,
topical files and informed hunches.
Under these circumstances, the Assistant to the
Curator is the backbone of the office and provides the
continuity of information storage and recovery for prompt
and accurate response to customer inquiries. Should a
shorter tenure for the Curator be adopted, as suggested
above, reliance on the Assistant would be increased.
Unfortunately, the present host office has advised
repeatedly that it will not support a grade greater than
GS-07. As an example: whose pithy reviews
you may recall from Studies in Intelli~p_nee, although
the top-ranked GS-07 in OCR, a tested level 5 in Russian,
and highly experienced with the Collection, had to leave
the position ("to join OCR," as one friendly observer put
it) to obtain her present GS-OS. She had been in grade
ten years when she found it nocessiry fo-- career advance-
ment to leave HIC.
To r.epla the hoot office advertise
internally the G3-05/07 level. Of those responding,
all were unskilled clocks soaking promotion. Fa;: were
teadars of banks of any type none had even casual con-
tact with books dealing with intelligence, and alimest
uniformly they expressed lack of interest in the outside
reading obligations and language study requisite in the
position. None had the bent or dealing with cu tomars
at all levels, particularly senior officials,
A :?:i:,_ _. ,ision by the Dire for 0C;R, substituted a
rotations' by She has STAT
been in ti posi ion for over a year, and has it under
control. It is, h,owaver, a rot{ittonel assign:sent in
which she has bean alerted theme is no potential for
promotion. Althou,h not an iss'e in her case, rotational
assignments do not provida the time or incentive for the
immersion in the Collection necessary for the Assistant
to provide effective research to the Curator and to the
customers.
I believe the next Curator would be served well by
redesigncltion of the Position Lipward.
Administrative - Official Use Only
Approved For Release 2007/11/01: CIA-RDP85B01152R000200250017-3
 Approved For Release 2007/11/01: CIA-RDP85BOl152R000200250017-3
A; nisrrat_ive - VL id al use 4 41
The clerk-typist position he: been suggested for two
reasons. First, to relieve the Assistant to the Curator
of the many menial chords in running the library, mail
runs and the production of endless photo-copies for files
and customers.` I believe strongly that the skills of the
Assistant should be focused on reference and Customer
service. Second, I believe the Collection should have a
typing capability for production of its product. During
my tenure, I have been the Collection's production typist
for most items, and have been forced to beg assistance
from other offices for the rest, including those of cus-
tomers. This, of course, should not be, and Would be
remedied by addition of a clerk-typist.
5. This memorandum has not been routed, coordinated or dis-
tributed. However, after thirty-two years with the Agency and the ap-
proach of retirement, I feel the issues important enough to bring to
your personal attention unaltered, despite the bureaucratic faux pas
in the way it is done.
Curator -
ilis,_or ic?a i In.:e l.i.gence
 Approved For Release 2007/11/01: CIA-RDP85BOl152R000200250017-3
Ac, ni.atr: ti.ve - Official U:-,o 0, y
Location: The' CIA Historical Intelligence Coll. '_ion [HIC] is located
in Vault 1L41A, CIF, Headquarters. It functions administra-
tively under the Office of Central Reference, DD/I, and its
personnel [Intelligence Officer (Curator.), GS-14, and Assis-
tant to the Curator, GS-07] are slotted in the Office of the
Chief, LSD, OCR.
Access: HIC is available for use by all personnel with Staff or
Staff-access CIA building badges, including those from other
intelligence community organizations. Its materials are loan-
ed to other community elements and are made available from
time to time to authorized foreign liaison.
History: The CIA Historical Intelligence Collection was created at
the direction of DCI Allen W. Dulles on 31 January 1956. Dr.
Water L. Pforz'hein'. r, the for:'a_r Legislative Co_;, 1 and an
intelligence literature collector in his own right, was ap-
pointed Spacial Assistant to the DD/I and tasked with .stab-
lis incg and nenaging the Collection. Ultimately, the collect-
ion was placed with the Office of Centr,a1_.. Referent=, and it.;
chief was dnsignatcd Curator, Historical Intelligsnce_
An early Lodi notes that edi Dulles conceived the Coll act-
!on to be a working re os tory of bone: an periodicals on all
aspects OF intoilij-nce, b,ejinn ng with the earliest written
accounts of intelligence Operations and continuing to the
pres:r,t. He sw it as a reservoir of knowledge recording both
the "how to" and the "how it was done" of the intelligence
profession. He believed the lit"ratur'e contained sufficient
precedents on which pr.ofe:sio:?al intelligence officers might
dreei, reuch ?rn an attorney on old and new la`; voluaes,
of such materials for training purpos.
and hops] the _.. ....-.nce; Of s ..::h a collection would inhue young
in ta lili an.' officers with 1:ne traditions of a uniquely-.
?::?rice:': s'rvion.
The greatest srowth of early materials dealing with intelli-
gence occu_,:ecl d71r ;t!_J this period. As one author described
that tier, 'fhe Cu_at')r, a senior career official by trade but
allocated
by avocation a bibliophile of some note, is annually
a hancso;r.e budget to travel around the world in ge;rch of rare
boons and ';oca-,ents on espion.-l e." Froa an initial holding of
soma 1,505 ho %s a..,od;e5led internally, the Collection inarcas-
a! ten-Fold during Dr. Pforah ?i,uar's period. It v_a then, as
well, that an extensive Congressional holding was acquired.
Administrative; - official U:,,. Only
Approved For Release 2007/11/01: CIA-RDP85BOl152R000200250017-3
 These early years experienced a growing number of works deal-
ing with Uorld War II, and the first trickle of books discuss-
ing CIAO. The primary users of the Collection for ocerational
Yet, another author was not car from the mark when he referred
to other users as "properly cleared researchers who want to
dress up their learned reports."
The appearance of books dealing with the Agency sparked an
unusual authority being granted the Curator. DCI Action Memo-
randum A-311, dated 1 November 1963, empowered the Curator to
call on anyone in the Agency with the necessary expertise to
provide informed analysis of new materials, and to alert the
DCI and other senior officials when such publications appear-
ed. The informed analysis responsibility of the Curator was
overtaken by events of the decade that tollovied, a growinj
number of books, press disclosures and the like, shifted
analysis and damage assessaant to the affected Agency con-
ponents. HCC surrendered the process, yet remained integral
to it.
On 15 June 1974,I former Chief, Special i:c-
tivlties Operations, becuri_'y Ueserch Staff, was appointed
Curator to succeed Dr. Pforzh_imarr, who retired.
The Collection too,: on a new focus, 'iuc 1 8i. `i4Y,lteUle
directly to the investigations and pros_.
disclosures--and the rle;ed to discover and doc Ci,,ent the ov baits
of the post. nrC assumed a pro'.ilinenit role in tills process.
Yet another assignment to HIC was determination of historical
and procedural precedents supporting the contested Agency ac-
tivities. The flood of books and articles since that time
have swelled the Collection to almost 22,000 titles and
tripled its topical files.
The severe loss of institutional knowledge and records da-
structloii which occ:-rred in he 1970's lies resulted in more
reliance on the Collection by senior maeago7en?t and opera-
tional cos p on tints. Early au;thor z_ Linn for HIC, to contact
Agency retireeo to old in r