INTRODUCTION TO THE REVISED EDITION OF THE INTELLIGENCE SUBJECT CODE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01087A000900100016-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 30, 2001
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: January 22, 1960
• Content Type: MF

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CODIB-ISC-D-8
22 January 1960
MR4MANWM FM: CODIB working Group on the Intelligence Subject Code
SUBJECT s Introduction to the Revised ?edition of the Intelligence
Subject Code
1. The revised edition of the I8C is now in reproduction and distribution
is expected in March 1960. Your approval of the "Introduction", a copy
of which is attached, is requested before it is forwarded to the
printer.
2. Please note particularly the paragraphs concerning the alphabetical
index and the revision procedure.
3. The index entries are contained on IBM cards which will be machine
listed after final editing on plain sheets of paper for reproduction
of printed copy.
4.
The Area Classification Code is expected to be ready in time for
distribution with the revised edition of the IBC
-
5
5.
Revision procedure as outlined presupposes that the CODIB will maintain
overall control of any revisions with the Office of Central Reference,
CIA, responsible for the actual work involved in the coordination,
publication and distribution. In this connection, the Air Force
member, W. Stein, has suggested that the Intelligence Subject Code
and Area Classification Working Groups be merged into one single body
and that CODIB be requested to designate this body as a permanent
sub-committee on classification.
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The requirements for each Agency for copies of the revised edition# of
the ISC and looseleaf binders have been tentatively established as follows:
No. of
Copies
No. of six ring
Looseleaf Binders
Army
300
25
Navy
250
3.0
Air Force
300
25
State
20
2
USIA
2
2
NSA
10
2
FBI
2
2
AEC
2
2
0
cSXtyra Copies
50
85
0
TO'T'AL
~
w
7. Your approval of the "Introduction" and the umber of copies and
binders required by your Agency as well as your coumients on the Air
Force member?s proposal are requested by 29 January 1960.
25X1A
s stated above.
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T 22 January 1960
U N I T E D S T A T E S I N T R L L I G S N C R BOARD
IW tLIG NCE SUBJECT CODR (Ise)
introduction
The Intelligence Subject Code (ISC) was initially developed by the
Central Intelligence Agency, and adopted in 1948 for use with a punched card
system. In 1955 the Hoover Commission Task Force on Intelligence Activities
recommended that "all departments within the Defense Establishment and the
Department of State adopt a single indexing system based an the Intelligence
Subject Code." Soon thereafter the Defense 8stablishment, the Department
of State, and the National Security Agency endorsed the I8C for adoption and
use by the intelligence community. The present revision, prepared under the
auspices of the United States Intelligence Board's Comm' .ttee on Documentation,
is an attempt to meet the requirements of the intelligence community and to
reflect changes considered necessary after ten years of application. Included
for use with the ISC is a new Area Classification Code, also the result of this
community?a cooperative undertaking.
IMLOSO Y
The ISC is designed to provide subject and area references to the information
contained in intelligence reports an required by a general intelligence library
reference service. Specialised terminology and technical detail has been kept to
a minimum. Cross references, explanatory notes, and definitions are included
to aid in the uniform application of the ISC. Although the ISC is an index of
medium depth, greater specificity can be obtained by: (a) extending the
numbering system beyond the sixth digit; (b) augmenting specific portions of the
basic Ise; or (c) by adding key words in clear text.
The ISC must be applied in a specific manner because intelligence reporting
and retrieval requests are usually specific in nature. For example., a document
dealing with various types of naval vessels should not be indexed under the
general heading naval vessels; rather, it should be indexed under the specific
type of vessels. Genera1 headings should be used only for general reporting.
The IBC is a classified index, naval vessels are therefore all listed in the
same section; a generic search for everything on naval vessels is thereby easily
accomplished.
The ISC is designed for and has been applied to both manual awl machine
systems.
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NOTATION SYSTiO(Code)-
The six digit numeric notation system is constructed as follows:
a. The first digit identifies the chapter (1-7);
b. The second and third digits in combination identify the major subject
classes within each chapter (01-99);
c. The last three digits are allocated to the subject subdivisions within
each class.
No notation is assigned to the first level of generality within each
chapter, but for outline purposes these broad subjects are alphabetized, e.g.,,
Chapter I, A. General; B. State, etc.
In order to allow room for interpolation of new subjects, Saps have been
left throughout the notation scheme. In the last three digit positions, the
hierarchical arrangement could not always be maintained because the subject
arrangement or density would not permit it, e.g., 113.000 et. seq. Therefore;-
many of the class subdivisions are numbered consecutively with appropriate gaps
rather than hierarchically.
SUBJECT MODIFIERS
The subject modifiers are a taceting device which can be combined with
certain subjects to specify actions or states which affect those subjects.
They are comparable to subject subdivisions as applied in some classified
indexes or to auxiliary tables and various faceting devices found in other
classification schemes. A complete list of subject modifiers and the subjects
to which they apply follows this Introduction.
The subject modifiers should always be applied when and where applicable.
They are one means of indicating specificity and it is anticipated that the
present list will expand after experience has been pined in using this Code.
The practice of applying these subject modifiers only to specified subject
categories rather than to freeing them for use with any subject within the
entire ISC is to prevent possible indexing errors through illogical a lication.
There is no reason, however, why the more general modifiers, e.g. (0699) Govern-
ment Policies, legislation, Regulations, and Controls, cannot be universally
applied if experience warrants.
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The method of modifier input into a system depends on the machine or
manual system used. In punch card systems e.g., IBM, certain columns are
allocated or fielded for modifier input. (There are cases where as many as
three modifiers can be logically applied to a single subject. See modifier
scope note at head of Chapter VI for an example.) In computer systems, tags
or role indicators .are assigned to identify the modifiers. In manual
systems, the modifiers are added to the subject code, e.g., 621.255.0 ,to
show the production of aluminum.
AL?BAB PICAL INDE C
The subject index in alphabetical order consists primarily of the term..
inology used in the ISC. With use, additions to the index will undoubtedly
include terminology which does not appear in the ISC, i.e., dictionary entries.
Multiple index entries rather than cross references have been made in order to
facilitate the use of the index. The preparation of the index on IBM cards
accounts for the use of single l:Lne short entries rather than a classified
arrangement which is usually preferred. The shortness of the entries also
necessitated the use of some abbreviations and accounts for some lack of
uniformity.
t' apter I (100.000) - Government, Politics,* and International Activities
and Institutes
Includes government theory and practice, government organization,
domestic politics and political parties; internal security, intelligence
and espionage; foreign relations; and international organizations. Sub-
jects of military interest, e.g., security systems, intelligence and
espionage, and propaganda have appropriate subject modifiers to distinguish
military interests. Military policy which appeared at the end of the
World Politics Chapter (100) in the previous edition of the ISC will be
found in Chapter VII - Armed Forces.
Chapter II (200.000) - Social and Cultural Structure and Institutions
Includes description of the. social structure; institutions, e.g.,
religion and educational population data; public opinion; and health and
welfare. Public order and safety and propaganda which appeared in the
Social and Cultural Forces Chapter (800) of the previous edition of the
ISC will be found in Chapter I.
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Chapter III300 ?-Scienca and Technology; Baagiaaeering
Includes primarily scientific and engineering organizations, fields
of interest, and processes. The products of science and technology which
were entered in the Science Chapter (600) of the previous edition of the
ISO are now included in Chapter VI of this edition with a research and
developnent subject modifier (080) to specify scientific aspects.
C apter IV (400.000) Commerce Industry, Finance
Includes domestic and foreign trade; non-commodity aspects of
industry., e.g., organization activities, labor; domestic economic and
financial organizations; and foreign economic relations. This Chapter
consists of a revision of the non-commodity sections of Chapter VII
of the previous edition, excluding transportation and.coumnmication
systems.
Chapter V 12M.000) - Transportation and Coimnunication System
For transportation systems the emphasis is on the civilian aspects.
Military transportation interests are found under various subject sub-
divisions in Chapter VII. The communication systems include both
civilian and military systems; therefore subjects of military siggal
interests, e.g., tactics, orgs,nization, installations, are entered here
rather than in Chapter VII. Appropriate subject modifiers have been
included to specify military interests. Military signal, personnel are
entered in this Chapter, but both civilian transportation and com?aani-
cation personnel are entered in the labor section, 453.000 at. seq.
Provision is made for indexing transportation and communication equip-
which is part of a country's system in this Chapter. All other aspects
of equipment, e.g., economic and research are entered in Chapter VI,
654.04q et. seq. and 666.000 et. seq.
The ostensible inconsistencies described above are quite necessary.
It we initially thought desirable to include all aspects of transportation
and ecemunication systems and equipment in one chapter. This did not prove
feasible, because, whereas there is a certain parallelism between civilian
and military communication systems, there is little similarity between
civilian and military transportation systems. Further, it seemed in-
consistent to delete transportation and, communication equipment from
Chapter VI where all other products and weapons are listed. It would also
have been inconsistent to place non-military transportation and communi-
cation labot in this Chapter and thereby make an exception to the rule that
all, aspects of labor should be entered in the labor section 453.000 et. seq.
These distributions are explained in appropriate scope notes and cross
references.
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Chaapter VI {600.000) ? Resources,Com9modities, Weapons
Includes all economic, military, and research aspects of natural
resources and, products produced by man, including military weapons and
equipment. The subject modifiers preceding and within this Chapter
are the key to specifying the various actions which affect commodities.
The single commodity listing in this edition with a greater emphasis
on the subject modifier represents a major change in the structure of
the ISC.
Chapter VII (700.000) - Armed Forces
Includes status, policy, hostilities, organisation, strategy and
tactics, personnel including training, logistics, and installations.
As in the previous chapter, the subject modifiers preceding and within
this Chapter are extremely important, since they specify the branch or
sub-branch of service involved and specify important aspects, such as
order of battle. In the previous edition, the military services were
allocated three separate sections and subjects of military interest were
dispersed throughout the ISC. The combining of military organization
and activities in one section and the establishment of a single list of
military weapons and equipment in Chapter VI should simplify use of the
I8C by the military services.
AREA, CLASSIFICATION SCMM
See the introduction to the Area Code Classification for specific rules
of application.
VISION PR0C=MS
The Committee on Documentation, USIB, has designated the Central
Intelligence Agency as the control point for proposed revisions to the ISC.
Proposed changes, additions or deletions should be forwarded through channels
to the headquarters intelligence component of the organization for review and
recommended action. The proposed change will then be submitted to the Chief,
Document Division,, Office of Central Reference, CIA, for disposition after
appropriate interagency coordination.
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