Doc 0000146248

The image is a digital banner with a dark background. On the left, it features a stylized graphic of a vault door with a spinning combination lock and other intricate mechanical details, illuminated by a blue light. The top of the banner displays the text "THE BLACK VAULT" in a white, stylized font. Below this, white text describes the origin of the document as being from an online database of declassified government documents, specifically mentioning the MKULTRA/Mind Control Collection housed by the Central Intelligence Agency, and provides a URL for online access. The bottom of the banner transitions into a deep blue gradient. Attn~dtd 195~-:~k@ 12l!ay • -, , ;;jB / c 0 p y '{J./Iojgy · 1 21 ,Ja.nua.ry 1954 . . G TO · : Chief Security Staff,.,. 1 :~i A FROH ,_ ' ,.· SUBJECT: ARTICHOKE Project l . \ .· At present~~.Teatn c.omprise::; o~ on l'CS and .._...on TDY for a. re~~ months or less. A Technician assistant will arrive about 1 April 1954. The Aii.TICr~roject h G as three primary fw1ctions to accomplish in thelill.tllirea. I~! OiUEflTATION: -~~ It will be the duty of the Al\TIC!iOY.I:. T-n€ m · • ~o visit'a.ll princip~~ations, mis~icns, end installations in th~rea and crient Lho ~ Chiefs of }fissions, Stations or Installationot concerned and a~ers as determined by the IIIII' Security Ch~ef, on a 11need-to-kno'.T11 basis.:· as to tho m~n and purpose of the ··Aiq'JCiiOKE Team in the..,area. In conjunction w-ith the tr..e or.ientb. tion, an inspection of pbystcel fa cili. ties and deterrninE.ltion of the availability of indigenous groups will be per forr~er:! by the AHTICHOKl'~ Terun for the purpo::1e of conducting future operations and ex!Jeriment3 as outlined belo"\oot: ... .. : II. OPEJUI.TIONAL SUFPCHT: At present, the ARTICI!OK.t; Teurn is fully ~­ prepn.red to cope ·,.,i th and rE~nder operational SUP! ort ns required throu[.;h the u::;e of UP!ll"O pri!lte drugs ond/or hypnc:Jis. !lew inforna- tion can be extracted from a .SUBJE..CT ~\.:]untarily c 0 p y .. ' .. -. ' ). ., , / .. c 0 p y . .,' .• . ~ . - ,.. . ..."'!' ,· or involuntarily with a maximt.un possibility of comp]ete, if not partial, aw1esia of the ·, whole procedure conducted to sec\.u·e tho t in 1 formation. This would te directly appficable ' ' to indir,enous individuals preseptly held. in isolation o: cus~ody because oqthe, inability .. to N.ke a determinr.tion as to their true . f~m:.l • loyalty and/or intentions. Al~o, operational ly, this be nn adjunct to the interro ~.Jott.ld gation procedures and techniques now in effect because of the applicability of ARTICI!CtE pro cedures and techniques to an involuntary SU13JE.CT as loPg as controlled physi.cal access to the SUB,TECT cr.n be obtained. No operation of this n2.ture wilJ be undertaken without the authority of the Chief of Security, ~fie ,......... . .. :, I'II. DE..VELOI'J.J:.NT. Arm i!.ESFJ..RCH: In view of the fact that all avnilal,le I ;'/ .1 knowledge and mcterinls thnt are rresently at I / The image is a scanned document, showing a typewritten memo. There are several handwritten annotations in dark ink, including "A/B/2,10/84" and "H-8/3" near the top right, and large "G"s and "A"s in the margins. There are several blocks of redacted text throughout the document. The memo is dated "21 January 1954" and concerns a project or team named "ARTICHOKE" and its functions of orientation and operational support, with mentions of drugs and hypnosis. The overall visual impression is of a black and white document with clear text and handwriting overlaid on some areas. the SUB,TECT cr.n be obtained. No operation of this n2.ture wilJ be undertaken without the authority of the Chief of Security, ~fie ,......... . .. :, I'II. DE..VELOI'J.J:.NT. Arm i!.ESFJ..RCH: In view of the fact that all avnilal,le I ;'/ .1 knowledge and mcterinls thnt are rresently at I / ,· the disposc.l of the ARTICllC!':E Tear. p~rto.ins : · -- mainly to Ent;lish sr·eo.king incividunls,.:it is essential thJ1.t the proper techniques and f:·ro- · cerl\).res be developed that would J.=ertain to the , namely the ave.ila area; (e.G. hospitals, private practitioners) must be utilized and all the pertinent availabie m~terial be ~cmpiled so as to ninimize unnecessary ex1·enciit~ of .- tir·~e, mone)· nnd man power in pursuing :something thn t has already been acccmplishec. All this··· will be done under appropriate cover. .: \-!ben Al1.TICI!OY.E. methods and (,ecLniques applicable to the different racial g:rour:s ~re completerl a~:cor~.ng to the peculi<1r require:::enl.,s reJ a ted to la.ngu::1g<J, r~J.cl~J nnd cul ... tural background and rhilosophy of each group is ccnc8rncd, tben operational ex_periments and ex!3rcises con be performed ~ , ,., ' , .. ~ c 0 p y ' ,. - ·•· .. ., / ' J c 0 p y s I ' on selected indigenous groups to determine the feasibility of the fol+owing ?b,jectives: . a. Use of AnTICHOI·:E as o.n offensive weapon; tha\ through the use of hypnosis o.nd post-hypnotic sugcestions the SUPJECT, 'Yh:€thcr voluntarily or involuntnrpy, vould perform acts as indicated and/or deSired 'With comr1-ete' amnesia of the . proeedures and. techniques involved in obtaining trut goal. · ' . b. Une of ARTICHOKE as_ a defensive veapon; that through the use of hypnosis and post-hypnotic SU[f.estions a sui table and effective secw·i ty neasure can be instituted beyond the control of en individual to safe-guard the dis closure of classified informaticn. For Having a eY~mple: ke:r word or thought containing informDtion pertaining to n particular sensitive project act as the stimulus to induce unconsciousness. Or, to hnve classified infornaticm erased frcm a cour).,er 's memory until it is recalled nt the arf'ro..: • pr]o.te time ~f delivery by a pre-arranged verbal, a~ditory, visual or physical stimulus acting as the k:€y. 2. It i~ felt that Part I, OHIEN'TATIOI-1, -.,rill be ac within a reasonable length of tin•e. In respect __ complish~d to Part II, OI'ERATIOW .. L SUFFOfiT, the ARTICHOKE Teo.m is pres ently The document is a typed, single-page report that appears to be an internal memorandum. There are several black ink smudges in the upper portion of the document, obscuring some text. A handwritten "G" is present in the left margin near the center of the page, and a handwritten "F" is located in the left margin further down. Below this, near the bottom right, a handwritten "2" is visible, indicating a page number. The text discusses development and research related to "ARTICHOKE methods and techniques" applied to different racial groups. Portions of the text are obscured by redactions or heavy ink smudges. There are no photographs, diagrams, forms, tables, or stamps visible. time ~f delivery by a pre-arranged verbal, a~ditory, visual or physical stimulus acting as the k:€y. 2. It i~ felt that Part I, OHIEN'TATIOI-1, -.,rill be ac within a reasonable length of tin•e. In respect __ complish~d to Part II, OI'ERATIOW .. L SUFFOfiT, the ARTICHOKE Teo.m is pres ently ready and able t~ render that support on 'calf frcm. the Operatio11al Sections. Part III, DE"I/El.OPl!E.in AilD Il!::.SE.ARCI-i, lU:e any development and research program, is a time-9.on-. stuning, tedious process requiring careful planning and co ordination, of the time required for this part Estimatio~ of the project can not be made at present becauae of the insufficient inforr:1ation on hand to make tbat determination. fl /::,1 - 3 - This page from a declassified MKUltra document is primarily text-heavy, with handwritten annotations and some obscured content. The text discusses objectives related to "ARTICHOKE" and its use in offensive and defensive capacities involving hypnosis and post-hypnotic suggestions. There are handwritten marks, including a checkmark and what appears to be initials, under the "APPROVED:" heading at the bottom left. Portions of the document are obscured by heavy redactions, particularly in the upper and lower sections of the page, suggesting sensitive information that remains classified or has been intentionally removed. The page also contains a handwritten "A." in the lower right corner.