NSA/CSS 60th Anniversary Timeline - 1950s

• Significant Events
• Documents
• Photos

Significant Events

• 1952 - LTG Canine
  NSA's first Director established a strong foundation for the fledging organization.
• 1952 - VENONA
  The VENONA project exposed a massive Soviet espionage effort that threatened national security.
• 1957 - The Move to Ft. Meade
  One reason the site was selected was because it was deemed far enough away from the capital in case of a nuclear strike.

Documents

• Communications Intelligence Activities - 24 October 1952
• COMSEC Matters - 24 October 1952
• Initial Plans Effecting NSA - 31 October 1952
• Interim Implementation of National Security Counsel Intelligence Directive (NSCID) No. 9 Revised - 4 November 1952
• Redesignation of AFSA as NSA - 7 November 1952
• Memorandum for Secretary of Defense Regarding NCSID No. 9 - 2 December 1952
• Implementation of NSCID 9 Revised - 5 December 1952
• Interim Responsibility for COMSEC - 5 December 1952
• Further Implementation of NSCID No. 9 Revised - 9 December 1952
• NSCID No. 9 Revised - 29 December 1952
• NSA Directive No. 1 - 1 January 1953
• Reorganization of Headquarters - 28 January 1953
• NSA Directive No. 2 - 2 March 1953
• NSA Civilian Personnel Policy - 8 April 1953
• Building Planning Service Proposal - 5 March 1953
• NSA Bulletin 27-53 - 6 May 1953
• NSA Memorandum 10-42 - 20 July 1953
• Academic Training Opportunities in NSA - 7 August 1953
• NSA Air Raid Alert Instructions - 9 September 1953
• NSA Bulletin 49-53 - 14 October 1953
• Report to NSC on COMSEC - 20 October 1953
• Note by the Executive Secretary to NSC on COMSEC - 24 October 1953
• Staff Appointment of Brig Gen John Ackerman - 26 October 1953
• NSA Personnel Newsletter 1-53 - 1 November 1953
• Presidential Order Affecting Security Classification - 20 November 1953
• NSA Bulletin 4-54 Arrival of the President of Turkey - 27 January 1954
• Material for PIO - 24 March 1954
• Memorandum from Personnel Relocation Task Unit - 29 March 1954
• USCIB Directive 12 Conduct of Overt COMINT Liaison with Foreign Governmental Activities - April 1954
• Memorandum Regarding Move to Fort Meade - 14 May 1954
• Arrangements to Provide Administrative Services for NSA - 19 May 1954
• USCIB Policy on Jamming of Foreign Radio Communications - 20 May 1954
• NSA Regulation 66-1 Appearance of Agency Spaces - 24 May 1954
• NSA Regulation 30-2 Hot Weather Policy - 17 June 1954
• NSA Bulletin 25-54 - 18 June 1954
• Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense Regarding Interim Operations at Fort Meade - 12 August 1954
• Memorandum Firm Moving Date Set for Interim Move - 24 August 1954
• NSA Guide to Individual Conduct - 1955
• Notes on AFSA NSA Key Officials - 17 February 1955
• Joint Tenancy Agreements at Fort Meade - 9 March 1955
• Navy Space Requirements at Fort Meade - 31 March 1955
• Hoover Commission Study - June 1955
• Alleviations of Overcrowding at Fort Meade - 1 June 1955
• Chronology of NSA Move to Fort Meade - 24 June 1955
• Availability of Housing at Fort Meade for WACS - 6 July 1955
• DoD Directive S3115.2 ELINT - 13 July 1955
• Facts Bearing on the Use of Buildings Located within Three Miles of NSA - 7 October 1955
• Billeting Requirements for NSA Enlisted Women at Fort Meade - 7 October 1955
• Drug Fair Interested in Leasing Store Space at NSA - 31 October 1955
• NSCID-17 ELINT - 1 November 1955
• COMSEC Procurement of a General Purpose Computer - 20 January 1956
• USCIB Policy on Imitative Communications Deception - 27 January 1956
• Time Magazine Letter to the Editor from Friedman - 10 May 1956
• Eisenhower Library: Letter from Killian to Eisenhower 20 December 1956
• Eisenhower Library: Memorandum Regarding Discussion at Special Meeting - 18 January 1957
• NSA Regulation 32-4 - 1 April 1957
• Major New Construction at Fort Meade - 1 May 1957
• Estimated Cost of HARVEST System - 17 May 1957
• Fort Meade Big New Hush Hush Building Nearing Completion - 19 June 1957
• Giant New Building at Fort Meade - 20 June 1957
• Joint COMINT Civilian Career Program - 1 January 1958
• Scientific Judgments on Foreign COMINT - 23 January 1958
• Eisenhower Library: Baker Report 5 February 1958
• Eisenhower Library: Memorandum of Conference with the President - 10 February 1958
• Memorandum from Samford to Erskine - 5 March 1958
• Meeting of the Advisory Panel for Classification and Control of Information - 30 April 1958
• Joint Cryptologic Civilian Career Program - June 1958
• NSCID No. 6 - 15 September 1958
• NSCID No. 7 - 15 September 1958
• DoD Directive S-5100.19 Implementation of NSCID No. 7 - 19 March 1959
• DoD Directive S-5100.20 National Security Agency - 19 March 1959
• DoD Directive S-3115.4 COMINT - 19 March 1959
• Memorandum Regarding OSD Responsibility for NSA - 28 March 1959
• PL86-36 - 29 May 1959
• DoD Directive 5100.23 - 25 August 1959
• Eisenhower Library: Aerial Reconnaissance Briefing
• Early NSA Organization Chart from Establishment of NSA Files

Please Note: These historical documents are PDF images of formerly classified carbon paper and reports that have been declassified. Due to the age and poor quality of some of the PDF images, a screen reader may not be able to process the images into word documents. In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, individuals may request that the government provide auxiliary aids or services to ensure effective communication of the substance of the documents. For such requests, please contact the Public Affairs Office at 301-688-6524.