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Isadore Zack-U. S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC)

1942-1997

MC 160

4 boxes (1.33 cu. ft.)

About Isadore Zack and the CIC

The U.S. Army’s Counter Intelligence Corps, First Service Command, headquartered in Boston, produced the information in this collection between 1943-46. Isadore Zack was in charge of a group called the Subversive Squad between 1942-3. Thereafter, he commanded ten men who formed the Counter Intelligence Group (CIG) of the Security and Intelligence Division. This Group’s function was to collect intelligence and to write the Weekly Intelligence Summary for the commanding general, which was then circulated to more than one hundred law enforcement organizations in New England. This report covered such areas as subversive activities, racial disturbances, labor relations, sabotage, foreign language press, riots and domestic disturbances, foreign affairs pressure groups, and miscellaneous incidents. The CIG also prepared fifty Domestic Intelligence Reports between 1944-45. The Weekly Intelligence Summary dealt with the alleged subversive activities of such groups as Communists, Germans, Italians, Japanese, Pacifists, Socialists, Trotskyites, Italian Fascists, Jehovah’s Witnesses and others suspected of sedition or potential mutiny. The CIG also handled undercover investigations on allegations pertaining to national security and military fitness.

Isadore Zack was born in Quincy, MA in 1912. After graduating from the Boston University School of Journalism he worked on various local papers before training in intelligence procedures in Chicago. He served in the U.S. Army from 1941-1945 and was assigned as Special Agent in Charge of the Counter Intelligence Group/Subversive Squad, First Service Command, Boston, CIC from May 1942 until he left the service. He won three citations and the Army Commendation Ribbon. After the war he served as Director of Fact-Finding and Public Relations for the Anti-Defamation League, N.E. Region. He has recently served as the Secretary of the Military Intelligence Association of New England (MIANE) and as national vice-president of the National Counter Intelligence Corps Association.

About the Isadore Zack-CIC Collection

The collection contains a variety of materials relating to domestic intelligence gathering in the early 1940s. Handouts and notes from Mr. Zack’s training provide an insight into the world of domestic espionage during the war years. Periodic intelligence summaries give an overview of the issues and groups that concerned the CIC both regionally and nationally. Individual reports provide an insight into how investigations were handled. The collection consists of training handouts and associated notes, official intelligence summaries, individual investigation reports, and a few photographs.

Folder Listing

  1. Training materials
  2. Administrative Records (of the Subversive group and the Counter Intelligence Group, First Service Command, Boston, 1942-46)
  3. Domestic Intelligence Memos
  4. Investigative Reports
  5. Miscellaneous
  6. Photographs


I. TRAINING MATERIALS (August 1942)


BOX 1
f.1	General Orders.
f.2	Courts Martial and Articles of War.
f.3	Schedule.
f.4	Arsonists.
f.5	U.S. Courts and Federal Procedure.
f.6	Explosive Laws.
f.7	Firearms Laws.
f.8 	Telephone Supervision.
f.9 	Report Writing.
f.10 	Codes and Ciphers.
f.11 	Bombs and Infernal Machines.
f.12 	Burglary.
f.13 	Observation and Description Test.
f.14 	Notes on General Principles of Investigative Procedures.
f.15 	Notes on Questioned Documents.
f.16	Handwriting.
f.17	Post Office Inspectors.
f.18 	Postal Laws and Regulations.
f.19 	Naval Intelligence Organization.
f.20	Microphone Installation.
f.21 	Surveillance Exercise.
f.22 	Index of Investigative Duties of the U.S. Treasury Dept.
f.23 	Observation and Description.
f.24 	Systems of Identification.
f.25 	Safeguarding Information.
f.26	Law of Evidence.
f.27	Undercover Work.
f.28	Methods of Searching.
f.29 	Methods of Surveillance.
f.30 	Impersonation.
f.31 	Counter Subversive System.
f.32 	Civil Service Acts and Regulations.
f.33 	Law of Arrest.
f.34 	Latent Fingerprints.
f.35 	Care of Calcium Chloride Tube.
f.36 	Taking Fingerprints.
f.37 	Plaster of Paris.
f.38 	FBI Organization and Functions.
f.39 	Interrogation of Witnesses and Prisoners.
f.40	Law of Searches and Seizures.
f.41 	Conspiracy.
f.42 	Investigative Photography.
f.43 	Moulage.
f.44 	Applicant Investigations.
f.45 	Immigration and Naturalization Service.
f.46 	Treason.
f.47 	Organization and Functions of Military Police.
f.48 	Assignment Sheets - Undercover Work.


     

II. ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS


BOX 2
f.1 	Domestic Intelligence Memorandum, Jan. 31, 1944.
f.2 	Assignments for Subversive Squad, May 21, 1943.
f.3 	Letter to Zack from Corporal Bernstein, June 2, 1943.
f.4	Suspicious Phone Call Memorandum, Sept. 27, 1943.
f.5 	Letter from John Lawlor to U.S. Conciliation Service, Aug 28, 1943.
f.6	Newspapers required by Subversive Squad, July 21, 1943.
f.7 	Progress Report of Subversive Squad, May 4, 1943.
f.8 	Investigation of Soldier, May 19, 1943.
f.9 	Efficiency Report of Members of Subversive Squad, June 25, 1943.
f.10 	Duties of Agents on Squad, May 20, 1943.
f.11	Photographic Work Request Form and Envelope, Jan 10, 1944.


     

III. DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE MEMOS


f.12 	Otis A. Hood, 1/20/44.
f.13	Race Relations Forum, 2/10/44.
f.14 	George W. Hartman and the Peace Propagandists, 2/19/44 & 1/23/45.
f.15	Estimate of Domestic Negro Situation, 3/10/44.
f.16 	Fascist Agitation in the Negro Press, 3/24/44.
f.17	Information Committee on Reconstruction, 4/17/44.
f.18 	Communist Party Recruiting and Educational Aims and Methods,
	 4/17/44.
f.19	Survey of Armenian-American Activities, 4/26/44.
f.20	Sweethearts of Servicemen Clubs (SOS), 4/27/44.
f.21	Federazione Dopolavoro Del Massachusetts, Inc. (Fascist),
	 5/19/44.
f.22 	Negroes and the Labor Situation in New England, 7/15/44.
f.23	Carlson, John Roy, Friends of Francis Sweeney Memorial
	 Committee CIO Political Action Committee: Anglo-Saxon
	 Federation, 8/19/44.
f.24    Portuguese-American Activities, 9/26/44.
f.25    Peace Now Movement, 10/4/44.
f.26 	"New World A'Comin" (Communist Musical Revue), 10/4/44.
f.27	"Soviet Union and the War," 10/23/44.
f.28 	Peace Now Movement, 10/26/44.
f.29 	Migration of Negroes After World War II, 11/20/44.
f.30 	Pacifist Esperantist Activities, 11/27/44.
f.31 	Negro Situation in New England, 12/15/44.
f.32 	Digest of Opinions on Postwar Problems, n.d.
f.33 	The Pacifist Campaign Against Postwar Compulsory
	 Military Training, 1/8/45.
f.34 	Summary of the Domestic Intelligence Situation - 1944.
f.35	Committee on Fair Employment Practice, 1/10/45.
f.36 	Basic Training Course in Trotskyism, 2/21/45.
f.37 	Leadership and the Negro Soldier--Orientation, 3/6/45.
f.38 	Dissemination of Anti-Semitic Propaganda, 3/13/45.
f.39 	American Committee for Biro-Bidjan (Ambijan), 4/6/45.
f.40 	The Eastern Monetary Congress: Gerald L.K. Smith: The Buy
	 All Party, 4/13/45.
f.41 	I - The Commoner Party: II - The German Vegetarian and
	 Naturopathic Society, 6/7/45.
f.42 	Army Transport Service (A.T.S.) Association (Overseas Branch),
	 6/16/45.
f.43 	Communist Program For Infiltration of Nationality Group,
	 6/21/45.
f.44	Organization for the Permanent Return of European Combat
	 Troops, 7/6/45.
f.45 	Florida Bible Institute - Dr. Gerald B. Winrod, 8/24/45.
f.46 	Weekly Intelligence Summary #179 July 7-14, 1945.
f.47 	Weekly Intelligence Summary #180 July 14-21,1945.
f.48	Weekly Intelligence Summary #181 July 21-28, 1945.
f.49 	Weekly Intelligence Sumamry #182 July 28-Aug.4, 1945.
f.50	Weekly Intelligence Summary #183 Aug.4-11,1945.
f.51	Weekly Intelligence Summary #184 Aug 11-18, 1945.
f.52	Material for Weekly Intelligence Summary #93, Oct. 1943.


     

IV. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS


BOX 3
f.1 	Pictures viewed by Mr. Davrakian of Federal Communication
	 Commission.
f.2 	Incident at Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1/16/43.
f.3 	MA State Police Guard at East Boston Airport, Boston, MA, 1/4/43.
f.4 	"The Minute Man," 3/15/44.
f.5 	Draft Deferments; Watertown Arsenal, 4/26/43.
f.6 	Lack of Investigation of Civilian Personnel at Camp Myles Standish,
	 Taunton, MA, 5/8/43.
f.7	Strength of MA State Police in Personnel Vehicles & Armaments
	 5/27/43.
f.8	Live Ammunition found at Lawrence, MA, 6/7/43.
f.9	Russian Flag Flying Incident, 8/31/43.
f.10 	Homosexuals in Statler Hotel Bar, Boston, 9/14/43.
f.11	Conduct of Servicemen in Providence, RI, 9/17/43.
f.12	Wave of Four Major Fires Sweep Boston Area--Falmouth Fire Injures
	 Five, Destroys Four Planes, 9/18/43.
f.13	Howe, Walter D. (Pfc.) ASN 11087866, Japanese Script, 10/22/43.
f.14 	Letter: Zack to Goodman, Boston Police re Col. Furber, Ft. Devens,
	 10/19/43.
f.15 	Investigation of Damaged Records at Builders Iron Works, E. Boston,
	 MA, 3/27/44.
f.16 	Misinformation: Check of Boston Radio Stations, 1/22/44.
f.17	Lorch, Lee A. (Pvt.) ASN 31311429 Disaffection, 1/12/44.
f.18	Negro Soldiers Stationed at Boston Port of Embarkation, 4/8/44.
f.19 	Shipment of "Legend of the Pacific," 4/24/44.
f.20 	Henderson, Frances, 5/26/44.
f.21 	Mass AWOL, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 5/29/44.
f.22 	Rumor about pregnant WACS, 6/2/44.
f.23 	Prisoner of War Post Card, 6/2/44.
f.24 	Japanese Broadcast of American War Prisoner, 6/8/44.
f.25	Possible Fraud re: Uniforms, 6/9/44.
f.26 	Meteorological Candle Found in Maine Woods, 6/16/44.
f.27 	Alleged Seditious Article re Negroes, 6/12/44.
f.28 	Surveillance of Wood Island Park Section, E. Boston re Negro
	 Troops 6/17 & 18/44.
f.29 	Four Freedoms Essay Contest, 6/20/44.
f.30 	Friends of Free Germany, 6/21/44.
f.31 	Mantle Club/ G.E., Lynn, MA., 6/25/44.
f.32 	Jesse Clifford Daniel, 6/26/44.
f.33 	Racial Situation in Boston, MA, 6/28/44.
f.34 	Preventative Action to Eliminate the Causes of  Racial
	 Disturbances, 6/29/44.
f.35 	Camp Edwards License Plates #2240, 6/30/44.
f.36 	Feature Article--AFRO-AMERICAN (Negro Weekly), 1 July 1944.
f.37 	Brooks, Charles T. /Facilities for Returning Servicemen, 7/18/44.
f.38 	V.F.W. Auxiliary Meeting on Italian Prisoners, 7/27/44.
f.39	George La Piana/Daily Worker/Italian Service Units,
	 8/1/44 & 8/2/44.
f.40 	What Does the C.T.A.L.(Workers Confederation of Latin America)
	 Mean? A Booklet by Vincente Lombardo Toledano, 8/3/44.
f.41	Racial Discrimination Charge by Negro MPs, 8/4/44.
f.42 	Jehovah's Witnesses: Meeting in Boston. MA, 8/13/44.
f.43	Alleged Japanese Atrocity Story, 8/8/44.
f.44 	Meeting of Governor's Committee for Racial and Religious
	 Understanding, 8/8/44.
f.45 	National Religion and Labor Foundation, 8/14/44.
f.46 	Young People's Non-Partisan League, 8/21/44.
f.47    Preventative Measures for Racial Disturbances, 8/30/44.
f.48 	War Parents of America, Incorporated, 8/31/44.
f.49 	Anti-Semitic Rhyme, 9/5/44.
f.50 	Snapshots of Japanese, 9/21/44.
f.51 	Soldier buys Communist Literature in Boston's Progressive
	 Bookstore, 9/16/44.
f.52 	German POW Altercation Ft. Devens, 9/23/44.
f.53 	Possible Illegal Transmitter, 10/4/44.
f.54 	Ukrainian National Association, 10/4/44.
f.55 	Threatened Strike, U.S. Rubber Company, New Bedford, MA, 10/9/44.
f.56 	Jack C. Little: false story re ship "Hyannis", 10/10/44.
f.57 	German coin, 10/16/44.
f.58 	Chandler, Eleanor I. (Mrs.) Negro/ Military Intelligence,
	 10/18/44.
f.59 	The Countercurrent, 11/1/44.
f.60 	Friends of Father Coughlin Dinner, 11/1/44.
f.61 	Coded Message from Lt. Beal, AUS 11/1/43.
f.62 	Samuel Adams School, 11/1/44.
f.63 	ASFTC Fort Devens Investigation, MA, 11/24/44.
f.64 	Powers, James H., Article re German POW's, Atlantic Monthly,
	 11/44.
f.65 	German Propaganda/Raytheon, 11/13/44.
f.66 	Teamster Strike (Undercover Report), 11/22/44.
f.67 	Fehlau, Edgar R. (Rev.), Subversive Sermons, Lewiston, ME,
	 11/22/44.


BOX 4
f.1 	CIO Office Workers Canteen, 11/30/44.
f.2 	Sales of Firearms, 11/30/44.
f.3 	American Veterans of World War II (AMVETS) and Brigadier General
	 H.C. Holdridge (Retired), 12/9/44.
f.4 	Frank Buda, Watertown Arsenal, MA., 12/9/44.
f.5 	PW-Civilian Personnel Fraternization at Cushing General Hospital,
	 Framingham, MA., 12/18/44.
f.6 	General Colonization Board/Italian Service Units to Venezuela,
	 12/22/44.
f.7 	Confidential Maps Found, 12/22/44.
f.8	Italian Service Unit Members Strike at Fort Andrews, MA. & Camp
	 Myles Standish, n.d.
f.9 	Notes for Communist Report for 1944.
f.10 	Letter From L.V. Rialo, 808 East St., Sacramento, CA re Italian
	 prisoners, 12/30/44.
f.11 	Slandering Army Uniform, 1/5/45.
f.12 	Leather Worker Labor Unrest in Peabody-Salem-Danvers & Woburn, MA.,
	 1/8/45.
f.13 	Japanese Activities in Waterbury, CT.
f.14 	Trotskyist Youth Group, 1/18/45.
f.15 	Possible Strike at Boston Port of Embarkation, 1/22/45.
f.16 	Possible Fascist Titles in Universal Book Service Catalogue 45,
	 1/24/45.
f.17 	1184 Religious Opponents of National Service Legislation, 2/5/45.
f.18 	Defective Equipment/Tobe Deutschmann Corporation, Canton and
	 Boston, MA, 2/14/45.
f.19 	Japanese-American Citizens League (JACL) & Cabot, Godfrey Lowell,
	 2/14/45.
f.20	Current Anti-Fascist Italian-American Thinking in Boston Area,
	 3/9/45.
f.21 	Rumor Letter re Soldiers Paying for Injections, 3/10/45.
f.22	International Labor Defense. 3/14/45.
f.23 	Refusal of Duty By Certain Member of WAC Detachment (Colored)
	 Lovell General Hospital, Fort Devens, MA., 3/23 and 3/28/45.
f.24 	War Food Administration (WFA) Apple Purchases, 3/27 and 3/29/45.
f.25	Communist Infiltration into Army/Secretary of War Stimson/
	 Washington Times-Herald, 4/21/45.
f.26 	Unsatisfactory Treatment, Returned E.M., Ft. Devens [Wise,
	 Frank (Cpl.)].
f.27 	U.S. Army Air Forces Equipment Dropped from Plane in Bridgewater,
	 MA, 6/26/45.
f.28 	Armenian Communist Party to Hold 8th Annual Connvention in
	 Detroit, MI, 8/28/45.
f.29 	General Information on Palestine, n.d. (probably 1945).
f.30 	Basic Training Course in Trotskyism (D.I.M.#31, draft), n.d.
f.31	Portuguese-American Activities (D.I.M.#34, draft), n.d.
f.32 	National Weekly Intelligence Summary, n.d.
f.33    National Weekly Intelligence Summary (Period 14 July-28 July 45).


     

V. MISCELLANEOUS


BOX 4
f.34 	Letter from Zack to Professor Douglas Wheeler.
f.35 	Letter from Zack to Duval.
f.36 	Article written by Zack, "CIC in Zone of Interior," n.d.
f.37	List of Special Agents sent to Cloak and Dagger Book Store, n.d.
f.38 	Commendation, 1944.
f.39 	Special Orders with envelope, 1945.
f.40 	Counterintelligence and Plant Protection Digest, 1943.
f.41 	Golden Sphinx Fall, 1993.
f.42 	Golden Sphinx Winter, 1995.
f.43 	Golden Sphinx Winter, 1996.
f.44 	Catalogue and Price List Counter Intelligence Corps School, Fort
	 Holabird, Baltimore, Maryland, January 1954.
f.45	Program, Corner Stone Ceremony, Headquarters, Fort Holabird,
	 Baltimore, MD, 19 March 1954.
f.46 	Pamphlet - 50th Anniversary of the Founding of Fort Holabird, 1967.
f.47 	Military Intelligence Association of New England Membership
	 Directory, 1983.
f.48 	CIC Membership Directory, revised edition, 1993.
f.49 	D-Day at Utah Beach by Michel de Valavieille. Translated for
	 the Use of Members of the Military Assoc. of New England, n.d.
f.50 	Booklist, U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps, Cloak and Dagger Books.
f.51	Bulletin, Rotary Club, Manchester, N.H., July 27,1997.


     

VI. PHOTOGRAPHS


BOX 4
f.52
 e.1	Isadore Zack and unidentified man at desk, n.d. (b&w, 4x5).
 e.2	Isadore Zack (as pictured above) (b&w, 8x10).
 e.3	Group photo including Isadore Zack (b&w, 4x5).
 e.4	Same unidentified man as above seated behind desk (b&w, 8x10).
 e.5	Stone Marker of CIC Headquarters in Boston, n.d. (color, 5x7).
 e.6	Stone Marker of CIC Headquarters in Boston, n.d. (color, 7x9 1/2).
 e.7	Prof. Douglas Wheeler addressing Rotary Club, 1997 (color, 4x6).
 e.8	"Gathering Secrets - a Crowded Field," photo of a slide used
	 during Prof. Douglas Wheeler's presentation to Rotary Club 1997
	 (color, 4x6).

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