Doc 0000146151

3 1 JA:J J:j/5 NE~IORANDU~·I FOR THE RECORD SUBJECT: Project ARTICHOKE , • ARTICHOKE is the Agency cryptonym for the study and/or use of "special" interrogation methods and techniques. These interrogation methods have been knotm to ~'special" include the use of drugs and chemicals, hypnosis, and "total isolation," a form of psychological harassment •. · A revieli of available· file information obtairted from Office of Sectn•i ty resources failed to reflect a comprehensiv c or complete picture of the ARTICHOKE program as participated in by the Office of Security. .Fragmentary infor~ation contained in a variety of files previously .maintained by the Security Research Staff (SRS) reflected several basic papers lihich described, in general terms, the program knmm as ARTICHOKE. Information contained therein indicated that prior to 1952, the Office of Security had s-cu.died -the use of drugs and chemicals in "unconventional interrogation." These studies were evidently coordin~ted with the Agency unit l1hich lias then called OSI. OSI at that time apparently was the coordinating unit within CIA. One paper reflected that an Office of Security team.- as early as 1949-50 experimented tdth drugs and hypnosis under a project called BLUEBIRD. This paper also reflect~d that by 1951 actual interrogations utilizing drugs were conducted by a coll\l,ined team of Office of Se:curi-ty n:nd Of .icc of Services personnel, but fel-l detaiJ.s \-rerc ~Jedical available~. File information indicated-. that i..n 1952, overall respon sibility for Project ARTICHOKE passed from OS! to the Office of Security. References to operational use of drugs as an aid to interrogation since that time were found in various files, but few details concerning these experiments were reflected. A memorandum, subject title: Project ARTICHOKE,. dated 21 November .1952, by ~Ir. Sheff~eld Em'iARDS, reflected . ' .. -,. . ... .t I ~-11.~ transfer of control of Project ARTICHOKE from .OSI t.o the Office of Security. The indicated that I&SO ~emor~ndum (Office of Security] should call upon research and t~e SU??Ort facilities of the CIA ?-fedic~·l Staff and the Office of Technical Services as required. Responsibility for the evaluation of foreign intelligence aspects of the project were to remain with OSI. • The unit. ld thin the Office of Security \vhich appa1.·cn tly coordin_a t;ed Project ARTICHOKE activities \-:as SRS, l-ti th Mr. ~-for many years ·the focal point. Details of Office of Security involvement in individual Project ARTICHOKE ot>erational utilizations \.:ere found in very fcH· instances. A reference The page displays a stylized graphic on the left, depicting a bank vault door with intricate mechanisms and a glowing blue light emanating from behind it. To the right, text in white font is superimposed on a black background. The text announces that the document was obtained from "The Black Vault," an online database of declassified government documents, specifically referencing the MKULTRA/Mind Control Collection from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). A yellow URL is provided for accessing the collection. There are no photographs, handwritten annotations, official stamps, forms, diagrams, tables, or redactions visible on this page. The visual elements are purely graphic and informational, designed to introduce the source of the document. This page is a typed memorandum with handwritten annotations. A stamp in the upper right corner indicates a date, "31 JAN 1975", alongside a circled handwritten annotation that appears to be a number. There is also a handwritten notation at the bottom right of the page, "75-42". The text itself discusses the "Project ARTICHOKE" and its use of "special" interrogation methods. There are no photographs, diagrams, tables, or redacted content visible on this page. with OSI. • The unit. ld thin the Office of Security \vhich appa1.·cn tly coordin_a t;ed Project ARTICHOKE activities \-:as SRS, l-ti th Mr. ~-for many years ·the focal point. Details of Office of Security involvement in individual Project ARTICHOKE ot>erational utilizations \.:ere found in very fcH· instances. A reference in an SRS log (1951-67) reflected~ however, that SRS h~d b~~n involved in the experimentation and use of hypnosis "from the start." In the same ref~;rcnce, it was stated that "SRS has examined and investigated numerous unusual techniques of including psychological interroga~ion harassment and such matters as 'total The SRS isolation~'' log referred to above, \ihich c·overed a period from 1951 to 1967 ~ indicated that, as of 1967, ''the term ARTICHOKE is not· in general use now, and drug interrogation is conducted from the recommendation of an Agency committee of l.fhich the Chief, SRS, is the Office of Security representative." ·No record was found which ~eflected when or if overall ~esponsibility for Project ARTICHOKE \vas transferred from the Office of Security to any other Agency component. One of the few areas where detailed information was available was concerned ,.,ri th hypnotic experimentations. A log of hypnotic experiments conducted by Office of Security personnel was reviewed. log reflected that numerous . Th~ (probably several hundred) experiments ui th hypnotisr.t \iere · conducted· in Agenr."y buildings, util5.zing the- st<:tf:£ e.pp~rently employee volunteers as subjects. In some instances, repre sentatives from components other than the Office of Age~cy Security.were present. The log reflected hypnotic experi mentations during 1951, 1952, and 1953. It could not be determined from available file iriforr.la·tion \·rhen the hypnotic e:x:perimen ts actually began or ere caused to be ceased. No \-I record l.fas located \vhich reflected hypnosis utilized as an actual operational tool in the·field. In connection with h)~no­ tism, it aonears that SRS utilized an Agency employee, on~ ; as an informant in various societies · dealing:'d th hypnotism to keep abr.east of current devel(?pments in the field. - 2 - --- .... . - ....-.; ... , ... ! .. FcH references t\·erc found pertaini.ng to the area of "total isolation" as an interrogation aid. A memoranduri\ pertaining to this subject, dated 21 ~rarch 1955, l-:a·s 1-1ri t ten by l-Ir . .NM' Z . Bi of SRS to the Director of Security. The paper discussed "total isolation" techniques as an operational tool of potential.· Another the area of "total isolation" as an interrogation aid. A memoranduri\ pertaining to this subject, dated 21 ~rarch 1955, l-:a·s 1-1ri t ten by l-Ir . .NM' Z . Bi of SRS to the Director of Security. The paper discussed "total isolation" techniques as an operational tool of potential.· Another paper (a • sterilized version, probably written"by an element of"th~ • Department of Defense) dated 16 March 1955, reflected the results of "total isolation" experiments on six volunteers, all members of the U.S. military. No reference ,.,as found to any additional experiments in this field, nor was any reference found Hhich reflected actual·use of this technique in an operational s~tu~tion.· · . As far as the experimentation arid/or utilization ~£ various drugs is concernea, references to a few instances were located, but little detail was available, and it was clear fro~ the files that m~ch of the detailed information probably ,.,as maintained by Agency units other than the · Office of Security, i.e., the Office of Medical Services and the Office of Technical Services~ ~' Among the instances l-:here details \~ere located in·· l'lhich drugs 1-:ere used in an operational envi!lonment under the nuspices of Project ARTICHOKE, liere the follO\-ring: (a) In 1954 ".:hree subjects ,~·ere interrogated by a Project ARTICHOKE team utilizing drugs of an unspecified nature. The three subjects \\ere idenati fied .a.. s , and\ --~ "in a memorandum dated 13 January. 1955, \-lith a cover she.et signed by Mr.··..§~ The intcrrog~tions took place injil ii Li, and the memorandum m·entioned injections of "solution :1" and "solution :2," but the·se drugs l-Tere. not further id-entified. It \-las noted in the memorandum that the cases 1-;ere handled "under ·straight drug techniques - hypnosis or narco-h"ypnosis Has not attempted." to · (b) A memorandum dated 20 January 1959 J.Ir. from indicated that a ficla' request had been made for a -~~P-1 a Fa .· interrogation." The \Hiter identified a .· .. l?-1 interrogation" as one using LSD. Approval \-lc:; srantcd on 2 7 Jnnu¥# 5~- __ b_y the i_ni ti~ls I·· • /' iliJ aa•lara. presumably Nr.'lllll l No further reference to the case could be found, thus no details were available. - 3 - r- "'!; ....... . . 'i -· . (!!5 , ·'. - :f'/1 (c) A series of, cables betHeen$9¥'fB and ticadquarters in lSSS rca.ucstcd ;\RT·ICf!Ot:E interrogations for nine persons. No disposition in this instance The page is a typed document with some handwritten annotations. At the top right corner, there is a handwritten annotation in cursive script, and to its right, a circled number in cursive. There are small black dots scattered across the page, typical of old photocopies. In the bottom right corner, there is a two-digit number written in large, bold handwriting. There are no photographs, diagrams, forms, tables, or stamps visible. There is one instance of obscured black ink, making some text illegible. The image is a scanned page of a typed document, likely from the MKUltra collection. The text discusses "total isolation" techniques and drug experimentation within the context of Project ARTICHOKE. There are significant redactions throughout the text, obscuring names, locations, and specific details of the operations. Handwritten annotations appear at the top of the page, including a number "297" and "487" as well as a page number "3-" at the bottom. Another handwritten annotation, "75-44", is present in the lower right corner. There is no visual evidence of experimental procedures, equipment, or facilities, nor are there any photographs or official stamps visible. further reference to the case could be found, thus no details were available. - 3 - r- "'!; ....... . . 'i -· . (!!5 , ·'. - :f'/1 (c) A series of, cables betHeen$9¥'fB and ticadquarters in lSSS rca.ucstcd ;\RT·ICf!Ot:E interrogations for nine persons. No disposition in this instance was found, however, a transmittal slip affixed to the materials dated in 1960 indicated that the ARTICHOKE interrogations probably did not actually take place in 0 at that time. · . , • (dl A memo contained in the security fil~ of ..., .. ..i iii. ..I IJ·~~ reflected that an ARTICHOKE team was dis~atch~d t~ in June 1952 to conduct ARTICHOKE interrogations on •••••· No further reference to this operation \vas noted, and no dis- position could: be.found. (e) In the case of 8 operation· in 1lST1T. !BTI111if drugs the interrogation \·rhich took place i Again> details of the not available, However> operation-~ere an intervieH 1..-i th the Office of Security reprcsen ta ti ve who participated in the interrogation revealed that a form of LSD l'las used in this instance. Tn this case, approval \ias granted· by Headquarters for the ARTICHOKE interrogation. A memorandum dated 6 July 1960, signed by Mr. Deputy Director~of Security~ reflected that approval for use of drugs in this cas.c: ltas granted at a meeting of the Drug Committee on · 1 July 1960 and cabled t·mw± FiEf. . . . As stated earlier, little detail was available in file information. concerning ~he.cbnduct of actual cases utili~ing Project ARTICHOKE techniques;· It appea-rsobvious, hol.;ever 1 that the felt cases noted above 11ere only a slilall part of. the actual utilization of ARTICHOKE techniques in the·ficld. For one thing, almost no information tvas· available for the . period prior to 1952, so that Project BLUEBIRD experiments and operations were not noted In addition, annual · specifical~y. reports of accomplishments found in SRS log materials reflected a substantial amount of activity in the Project ARTICHOKE · area. The review for 1953-1954 stated in part that SRS had "dispatched an ARTICHUKE team for location in· an permanen~ overseas area." The revielv for 1954·1955 stated in part that· SRS conducted numerous ARTICHOKE experiments and "prepared and dispatched an ARTICHOKE team to an overseas area to handle a number of sensitive cases." -- --- -- - 4 - --~ .• -.·.-; .• . ~ 1'1'1 ~ Review of file materials The document is a typed page with handwritten annotations at the top and bottom. At the top, there are handwritten numbers "341" and "487" with a curved line, possibly indicating a reference or page numbering system. There are multiple instances of black ink redactions, obscuring portions of the text, particularly around names, dates, and operational details. In the bottom right corner, another handwritten set of numbers appears: "75-45". The document itself contains no images of people, locations, equipment, or experimental procedures. There are no official stamps visible, nor any forms or structured data. area." The revielv for 1954·1955 stated in part that· SRS conducted numerous ARTICHOKE experiments and "prepared and dispatched an ARTICHOKE team to an overseas area to handle a number of sensitive cases." -- --- -- - 4 - --~ .• -.·.-; .• . ~ 1'1'1 ~ Review of file materials consisicntly reflected that the Office of Security exercised in the utilization ~aution of drugs under the ARTICHOKE P ·.J\1 though it is J.·og:rc::ii~ apparent that SRS for a nwnber of years was.engaged ~ith certain other Agency components in research and operational work with hallucinogenic drugs, the work was apparently con ducted under strict controls. As previously stated, no information pertaining to ,.,hen or if control of Project. • ARTICHOKE \.;as ·transferred from the Office of Security to another Agency component ·H·as located. Apparently, SRS at one time maintained an inventory of ARTICHOKE materials· which contained numerous drugs of all types including LSD-25. · A memorandum dated 14 October 1957 requested authorization for SRS to transfer ARTICHOKE materials and apparatus to Dr. of Medical Services. The memorandu~ was written by Mr. and approYal to transfer the materials lias granted by Nr.W'_:JI .......... on 17 October'"l9S7. In the review of file-information contained in SRS · materials, one incident l-thich occurred in November 19 53 appears ,.,..or thy of note. Although it lias ·not clear from file information whether or not the incident occurred under the auspices of Project ARTICHOKE, the incident did involve use of LSD in an experimental exercise. One Frank OLSON, a civilian employee of the Department of the Aa.·ny, committed suicide a week or so after having been administered LSD by an Agency Details this incident representativ~. ~oncerning apparently will be reported in a separate memorandum, but it appears that the drug \-tas administered to several umoli tting subjects by a Dr. GOTTLIEB, at that time a branch chief in· TSS (now OTS). A short time after the LSD was administered. the subjects were·told that they had been given LSD. On the day following the OLSON began to behave in expe~iment, a peculiar and erratic manner and lias later placed under the care of a psychiatrist. A. fe,., days later, OLSON crashed through a ldndoH i!l a Nelv York hotel in-·.an appa'ren t suicide • . A memorandut:l dated 1 December 1953 from the IG Staff caused the impoundment of all LSD m~terials. Information contained in the above files The image is a page of a typewritten document with handwritten annotations. The document contains a large amount of text and discusses "ARTICHOKE Program" which involved research with hallucinogenic drugs. There are no photographs, diagrams, forms, or official stamps visible. Redacted text appears in several places, indicated by black bars obscuring the content. Handwritten annotations are present on the top right of the page, including numbers and symbols, and near the bottom right corner. placed under the care of a psychiatrist. A. fe,., days later, OLSON crashed through a ldndoH i!l a Nelv York hotel in-·.an appa'ren t suicide • . A memorandut:l dated 1 December 1953 from the IG Staff caused the impoundment of all LSD m~terials. Information contained in the above files reflected that the ~entioned drug had been administered without the prior knowl~dgc_or approval of the Office of Security or the Office of Medical Services. .. 5 - ... . . - , - -· ·. _/ It should be noted that the information contained herein i~ based on resources available within the Office of Security o~ly ~ and no effort has bce_il m~de to del vc in tc files of other Agency bnits such as the Office of Mcdi~al Services or the.Office of Technical Services. As the reader is by now acutely aware~ insufficient information was avail able to provide a clear understanding'of either Project BLUEBIRD or Proj'ect ARTICHOKE. Investigative efforts , .. reflected that n~~erous files and collected data had been routinely purg~d or destroyed in the normal·course of events at some time in the ·past.·· · • •• . . ·- - 6 - . .' :;, ..... . This page is a typed document with handwritten annotations. At the top right, the number "483" is circled in ink. Toward the bottom center, the page number "- 6 -" is printed, and to the right of it, the handwritten numbers "75-47" are visible in ink. The text itself discusses the limitations of information available about Project BLUEBIRD and Project ARTICHOKE, noting that efforts were made to access files only within the Office of Security. The document contains numerous small ink specks, characteristic of older paper documents.