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Isadore Zack

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Guide to the Isadore Zack-U. S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) Papers, 1942-1997

Collection number: MC 160

Size: 4 boxes (1.33 cu.ft.)

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

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.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

This collection is open.

Copyright Notice

Contents of this collection are governed by U.S. copyright law. For questions about publication or reproduction rights, contact Special Collections staff.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Isadore Zack-U.S. Army Counter Intelligence Corps (CIC) Papers, 1942-1997, MC 160, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA

Acquisitions Information

Donated: Isadore Zack, Sept. 5, 1997 (Accession number: 97.013)

Collection Contents

Series I: Training materials: 1942

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

Series II: Administrative Records (of the Subversive group and the Counter Intelligence Group, First Service Command, Boston, 1942-46)

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

Series III: Domestic Intelligence Memos

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

Series IV: Investigative Reports

Box 3
Box 3, Folder 1 Pictures viewed by Mr. Davrakian of Federal Communication Commission
Box 3, Folder 2 Incident at Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1/16/43
Box 3, Folder 3 MA State Police Guard at East Boston Airport, Boston, MA, 1/4/43
Box 3, Folder 4 “The Minute Man,” 3/15/44
Box 3, Folder 5 Draft Deferments; Watertown Arsenal, 4/26/43
Box 3, Folder 6 Lack of Investigation of Civilian Personnel at Camp Myles Standish, Taunton, MA, 5/8/43
Box 3, Folder 7 Strength of MA State Police in Personnel Vehicles and Armaments, 5/27/43
Box 3, Folder 8 Live Ammunition found at Lawrence, MA, 6/7/43
Box 3, Folder 9 Russian Flag Flying Incident, 8/31/43
Box 3, Folder 10 Homosexuals in Statler Hotel Bar, Boston, 9/14/43
Box 3, Folder 11 Conduct of Servicemen in Providence, RI, 9/17/43
Box 3, Folder 12 Wave of Four Major Fires Sweep Boston Area–Falmouth Fire Injures Five, Destroys Four Planes, 9/18/43
Box 3, Folder 13 Howe, Walter D. (Pfc.) ASN 11087866, Japanese Script, 10/22/43
Box 3, Folder 14 Letter: Zack to Goodman, Boston Police re Col. Furber, Ft. Devens, 10/19/43
Box 3, Folder 15 Investigation of Damaged Records at Builders Iron Works, E. Boston, MA, 3/27/44
Box 3, Folder 16 Misinformation: Check of Boston Radio Stations, 1/22/44
Box 3, Folder 17 Lorch, Lee A. (Pvt.) ASN 31311429 Disaffection, 1/12/44
Box 3, Folder 18 Negro Soldiers Stationed at Boston Port of Embarkation, 4/8/44
Box 3, Folder 19 Shipment of “Legend of the Pacific,” 4/24/44
Box 3, Folder 20 Henderson, Frances, 5/26/44
Box 3, Folder 21 Mass AWOL, Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 5/29/44
Box 3, Folder 22 Rumor about pregnant WACS, 6/2/44
Box 3, Folder 23 Prisoner of War Post Card, 6/2/44
Box 3, Folder 24 Japanese Broadcast of American War Prisoner, 6/8/44
Box 3, Folder 25 Possible Fraud re: Uniforms, 6/9/44
Box 3, Folder 26 Meteorological Candle Found in Maine Woods, 6/16/44
Box 3, Folder 27 Alleged Seditious Article re Negroes, 6/12/44
Box 3, Folder 28 Surveillance of Wood Island Park Section, E. Boston re Negro Troops, 6/17 and 18/44
Box 3, Folder 29 Four Freedoms Essay Contest, 6/20/44
Box 3, Folder 30 Friends of Free Germany, 6/21/44
Box 3, Folder 31 Mantle Club/ G.E., Lynn, MA., 6/25/44
Box 3, Folder 32 Jesse Clifford Daniel, 6/26/44
Box 3, Folder 33 Racial Situation in Boston, MA, 6/28/44
Box 3, Folder 34 Preventative Action to Eliminate the Causes of Racial Disturbances, 6/29/44
Box 3, Folder 35 Camp Edwards License Plates #2240, 6/30/44
Box 3, Folder 36 Feature Article–AFRO-AMERICAN (Negro Weekly), 7/1/1944
Box 3, Folder 37 Brooks, Charles T. /Facilities for Returning Servicemen, 7/18/44
Box 3, Folder 38 V.F.W. Auxiliary Meeting on Italian Prisoners, 7/27/44
Box 3, Folder 39 George La Piana/Daily Worker/Italian Service Units, 8/1/44 and 8/2/44
Box 3, Folder 40 What Does the C.T.A.L.(Workers Confederation of Latin America) Mean? A Booklet by Vincente Lombardo Toledano, 8/3/44
Box 3, Folder 41 Racial Discrimination Charge by Negro MPs, 8/4/44
Box 3, Folder 42 Jehovah’s Witnesses: Meeting in Boston, MA, 8/13/44
Box 3, Folder 43 Alleged Japanese Atrocity Story, 8/8/44
Box 3, Folder 44 Meeting of Governor’s Committee for Racial and Religious Understanding, 8/8/44
Box 3, Folder 45 National Religion and Labor Foundation, 8/14/44
Box 3, Folder 46 Young People’s Non-Partisan League, 8/21/44
Box 3, Folder 47 Preventative Measures for Racial Disturbances, 8/30/44
Box 3, Folder 48 War Parents of America, Incorporated, 8/31/44
Box 3, Folder 49 Anti-Semitic Rhyme, 9/5/44
Box 3, Folder 50 Snapshots of Japanese, 9/21/44
Box 3, Folder 51 Soldier buys Communist Literature in Boston’s Progressive Bookstore, 9/16/44
Box 3, Folder 52 German POW Altercation Ft. Devens, 9/23/44
Box 3, Folder 53 Possible Illegal Transmitter, 10/4/44
Box 3, Folder 54 Ukrainian National Association, 10/4/44
Box 3, Folder 55 Threatened Strike, U.S. Rubber Company, New Bedford, MA, 10/9/44
Box 3, Folder 56 Jack C. Little: false story re ship “Hyannis”, 10/10/44
Box 3, Folder 57 German coin, 10/4/44
Box 3, Folder 58 Chandler, Eleanor I. (Mrs.) Negro/ Military Intelligence, 10/18/44
Box 3, Folder 59 The Countercurrent, 11/1/44
Box 3, Folder 60 Friends of Father Coughlin Dinner, 11/1/44
Box 3, Folder 61 Coded Message from Lt. Beal, AUS., 11/1/43
Box 3, Folder 62 Samuel Adams School, 11/1/44
Box 3, Folder 63 ASFTC Fort Devens Investigation, MA, 11/24/44
Box 3, Folder 64 Powers, James H., Article re German POW’s, Atlantic Monthly, 11/44
Box 3, Folder 65 German Propaganda/Raytheon, 11/13/43
Box 3, Folder 66 Teamster Strike (Undercover Report), 11/22/44
Box 3, Folder 67 Fehlau, Edgar R. (Rev.), Subversive Sermons, Lewiston, ME, 11/22/44
Box 4
Box 4, Folder 1 CIO Office Workers Canteen, 11/30/44
Box 4, Folder 2 Sales of Firearms, 11/30/44
Box 4, Folder 3 American Veterans of World War II (AMVETS) and Brigadier General H.C. Holdridge (Retired), 12/9/44
Box 4, Folder 4 Frank Buda, Watertown Arsenal, MA., 12/9/44
Box 4, Folder 5 PW-Civilian Personnel Fraternization at Cushing General Hospital, Framingham, MA., 12/18/44
Box 4, Folder 6 General Colonization Board/Italian Service Units to Venezuela, 12/22/44
Box 4, Folder 7 Confidential Maps Found, 12/22/44
Box 4, Folder 8 Italian Service Unit Members Strike at Fort Andrews, MA. and Camp Myles Standish, n.d
Box 4, Folder 9 Notes for Communist Report, 1944
Box 4, Folder 10 Letter From L.V. Rialo, 808 East St., Sacramento, CA re Italian prisoners, 12/30/44
Box 4, Folder 11 Slandering Army Uniform, 1/5/45
Box 4, Folder 12 Leather Worker Labor Unrest in Peabody-Salem-Danvers and Woburn, MA., 1/8/45
Box 4, Folder 13 Japanese Activities in Waterbury, CT., n.d
Box 4, Folder 14 Trotskyist Youth Group, 1/18/45
Box 4, Folder 15 Possible Strike at Boston Port of Embarkation, 1/22/45
Box 4, Folder 16 Possible Fascist Titles in Universal Book Service Catalogue, 1/24/45
Box 4, Folder 17 1184 Religious Opponents of National Service Legislation, 2/5/45
Box 4, Folder 18 Defective Equipment/Tobe Deutschmann Corporation, Canton and Boston, MA, 2/14/45
Box 4, Folder 19 Japanese-American Citizens League (JACL) and Cabot, Godfrey Lowell, 2/14/45
Box 4, Folder 20 Current Anti-Fascist Italian-American Thinking in Boston Area, 3/9/45
Box 4, Folder 21 Rumor Letter re Soldiers Paying for Injections, 3/10/45
Box 4, Folder 22 International Labor Defense. 3/14/45
Box 4, Folder 23 Refusal of Duty By Certain Member of WAC Detachment (Colored), Lovell General Hospital, Fort Devens, MA., 3/23 and 3/28/45
Box 4, Folder 24 War Food Administration (WFA) Apple Purchases, 3/27 and 3/29/45
Box 4, Folder 25 Communist Infiltration into Army/Secretary of War Stimson/Washington Times-Herald, 4/21/45
Box 4, Folder 26 Unsatisfactory Treatment, Returned E.M., Ft. Devens [Wise, Frank (Cpl.)]
Box 4, Folder 27 U.S. Army Air Forces Equipment Dropped from Plane in Bridgewater,MA, 6/26/45
Box 4, Folder 28 Armenian Communist Party to Hold 8th Annual Connvention in Detroit, MI, 8/28/45
Box 4, Folder 29 General Information on Palestine, n.d. (probably 1945)
Box 4, Folder 30 Basic Training Course in Trotskyism (D.I.M.#31, draft), n.d
Box 4, Folder 31 Portuguese-American Activities (D.I.M.#34, draft), n.d
Box 4, Folder 32 National Weekly Intelligence Summary, n.d.
Box 4, Folder 33 National Weekly Intelligence Summary, July 14-28, 1945

Series V: Miscellaneous

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

Series VI: Photographs

Box 4, Folder 52
Envelope 1 Isadore Zack and unidentified man at desk, n.d. (b and w, 4×5)
Envelope 2 Isadore Zack (as pictured above) (b and w, 8×10)
Envelope 3 Group photo including Isadore Zack (b and w, 4×5)
Envelope 4 Same unidentified man as above seated behind desk (b and w, 8×10)
Envelope 5 Stone Marker of CIC Headquarters in Boston,(color, 5×7). n.d (See this item)
Envelope 6 Stone Marker of CIC Headquarters in Boston, n.d. (color, 7×9 1/2)
Envelope 7 Prof. Douglas Wheeler addressing Rotary Club, 1997 (color, 4×6)
Envelope 8 “Gathering Secrets – a Crowded Field,” photo of a slide used during Prof. Douglas Wheeler’s presentation to Rotary Club, (color, 4×6), 1997

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