Register of the STCIRCUS Archive of Tibetan Resistance
Finding aid prepared by Brad Bauer, Beth Goder, and Hoover Institution Library and Archives Staff
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2012
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu
Title: STCIRCUS Archive of Tibetan Resistance
Date (inclusive): 1958-2011
Collection Number: 2006C8
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
7 manuscript boxes, 1 oversize folder, 1 digital print, 2 videorecordings, digital media
(3.2 Linear Feet)
Abstract: Writings, instructional and propaganda material, printed matter, photographs, video tapes, and memorabilia, relating to Central
Intelligence Agency programs to train Tibetan guerrillas.
Creator:
Walker, Bruce, 1932-
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
Box 5 and art rack items may not be used without permission of the Archivist. The remainder of the collection is open for
research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material
in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2006.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], STCIRCUS Archive of Tibetan Resistance, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library
& Archives.
Processing Information
Title of collection changed from Bruce Walker papers to STCIRCUS Archive of Tibetan Resistance in 2022 at the request of the
donor.
Biographical Note
| 1932 August 29 |
Born, Bronxville, New York |
| 1953 |
Second lieutenant, United States Marines |
| |
Graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, with a major in economics and minor in Spanish |
| 1954-1955 |
Stationed in Korea with the First Marine Air Wing. Promoted to first lieutenant |
| 1955 |
Honorably discharged at Treasure Island |
| 1956-1973 |
Case officer, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) |
| 1957-1959 |
Assigned to U.S. Consulate in Guayaquil, Ecuador |
| 1960 |
Enrolled in Tibetan studies courses at the University of Washington, Seattle |
| |
Transferred to Near East Division and started work on STCIRCUS |
| 1962 |
Private audience with the Dalai Lama |
| |
Student, Namgyal Institute of Tibetology in Gangtok, Sikkim, India |
| 1962-1964 |
Trained Tibetans at Camp Hale, Colorado, as part of STCIRCUS project |
| 1965-1966 |
Worked at Tibetan project desk, where one of his duties was to oversee the Cornell University program for Tibetans under the
STCIRCUS project
|
| 1966 |
Assigned to U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, using State Department cover, as the replacement STCIRCUS representative at
the Joint Operations Center
|
| 1968 |
Six month leave of absence from CIA |
| 1969 |
Transferred to Hong Kong desk in China Operations |
| 1971 |
Assigned to U.S. Consulate-General in Hong Kong as a case officer under State Department cover |
| 1973 |
Married Mary Frances Doyle |
| |
Resigned from CIA |
| 1974 |
Moved to San Francisco |
| 1974-1988 |
Worked in several business development departments of Bechtel Corporation |
| 1980-1988 |
Member, Board of Directors, Merola Opera Program of the San Francisco Opera |
| 1985 |
Established a Merola scholarship endowment fund |
| 1994 |
Became a volunteer at the San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum |
| 2004 |
Elected president of the board of the San Francisco Performing Arts Library & Museum |
Scope and Content of Collection
The collection documents Bruce Walker's role in STCIRCUS, a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) project to give support to the
Tibetan resistance by training Tibetan guerrillas, providing arms to the Chushi Gangdruk fighters, and using radio teams to
communicate information to the CIA. Bruce Walker's initial assignment for the project was to transfer Tibetans to Camp Hale,
Colorado, for training in "high-speed radio operations, clandestine communications, small arms, map reading, tradecraft,"
and other skills, including parachuting (curriculum vitae, box 1, folder 1). In 1962, Walker became part of the training staff
at Camp Hale.
The arrangement of the
STCIRCUS file is based on the order of materials found in a partial inventory of the collection created by Bruce Walker, although the arrangement
does not exactly match this list. The file includes photographs at Camp Hale and of Chushi Gangdruk fighters, clippings, a
report by Sam Curry, and propaganda booklets. Detailed descriptions of materials in the collection can be found in Walker's
inventory (box 1, folder 2).
Items not listed in Walker's inventory of September 2005 can be found in the
Incremental material. Several folders include detailed container lists. The
Oversize material contains cloth flags with the logo of the Chushi Gangdruk and the painting "The Secret PLA Pouch Heads for CIA's K Building,
West Tibet" by Keith Woodcock. The listed biography is for Bruce Walker.
Related Collections
American Emergency Committee for Tibetan Refugees Records, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
S. Fawl typescript, Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Secret service -- United States
Tibet Autonomous Region (China) -- History -- 1951-
Guerrillas -- China -- Tibet Autonomous Region
United States. Central Intelligence Agency
STCIRCUS File
1958-2005
Scope and Contents note
Includes partial inventory by Bruce Walker, photographs, clippings, English-Tibetan dictionary, reports, transcripts, and
audiovisual material related to a CIA project to train Tibetan guerrilla fighters.
box 1, folder 1
Curriculum vitae of Bruce Walker
2005
box 1, folder 2
Partial inventory, compiled by Bruce Walker
2005
box 1, folder 3
STCIRCUS bibliography
2005
box 1, folder 4
John Kenneth Knaus, "Official Policies and Covert Programs,"
2003
box MC21
The Shadow Circus: The CIA in Tibet
undated
Physical Description: 1 VHS videocassette
Separated Materials
Formerly Box/Folder 1 : 9.
box 1, folder 10
Reunion of STCIRCUS personnel in Las Vegas
2004
box StillNegPos Box 2
Slides by Bruce Walker
1961-1964
Scope and Contents note
Formerly Box/Folder 1 : 12.
box 2, folder 1
Black and white prints by Bruce Walker
1961-1964
box 2, folder 2
Black and white prints, miscellaneous
1961-1964
box 2, folder 3
Reproductions by Bruce Walker
1961-1964
box 2, folder 4
Cornell University: Tibetan trainees
1964-1966
Scope and Contents note
By Bruce Walker
box 2, folder 5
Chushi Gangdruk fighters
1958
Scope and Contents note
Photocopies of photographs
box 2, folder 6
Chushi Gangdruk general meeting, New Delhi
1997
Scope and Contents note
Photocopy of photograph
box 2, folder 7
Dhokham Chushi Gangdruk (New York): pamphlets and cover letter from Kalsang Gyatotsang
2004
Propaganda booklets and brochures
box 2, folder 8
Booklets in Tibetan language
1963
Scope and Contents note
Five brochures by Ken Knaus and STRANCH trainees
box 2, folder 9
Brochures in Tibetan language
undated
box 2, folder 11
First-aid brochure in Tibetan language
undated
box 2, folder 12
Maps of Tibet region
undated
English-Tibetan dictionary
Scope and Contents note
Prepared by Bruce Walker and Tibetan interpreters and trainees at Camp Hale, Colorado
box 2, folder 15
Drawings and text by Tibetan trainees, Stranch, Nepal
undated
box 2, folder 16
Transcript, "The Science of Spying," NBL-TV
1965 May 4
Anthony Poshepny (also known as Tony Poe) file
box 2, folder 18
Death and funeral
2003
Scope and Contents note
Includes photographs
box 2, folder 19
Report by Sam Curry
undated
box 3, folder 1-2
Typescript, "Tears of the Lotus: The Savaging of Tibet" by Roger E. McCarthy
1994
Scope and Contents note
Two copies. Includes correspondence
box 3, folder 3
Sound cassette, Interview of Alan Farley by Ken Knaus, "Orphans of the Cold War"
1999
Incremental Material
1967-2011
Scope and Contents note
Includes materials not listed in Walker's partial inventory of September 2005, such as clippings, video tapes, and correspondence.
box 3, folder 5
Booklet on Archangel aircraft
2007
box 4, folder 1
Correspondence and articles
1994-2006, undated
Scope and Contents note
Includes correspondence about "Tears of the Lotus" manuscript
box 4, folder 2
Materials received in 2008
1998-2008, undated
box 4, folder 3
Materials received in 2011
1967-2011
Scope and Contents note
Includes articles, maps, and STCIRCUS bibliography
box MC24
Meeting with the Dalai Lama
1999 March 22
Physical Description: 1 VHS videocassette
Separated Materials
Originally housed in Box 4
Scope and Contents
Roger E. McCarthy and Mikel Dunham, in Dharamsala. Discussing their books about Tibet, the CIA, STCIRCUS project and the Tibetan
resistance.
box MC24
Talk by Roger E. McCarthy at the University of Toronto
1998 October 1
Physical Description: 1 VHS videocassette
Separated Materials
Originally housed in Box 4
Scope and Contents
About CIA, STCIRCUS project, and the Tibetan resistance.
Oversize Material
1961, undated
box 5
Cloth flags
undated
Scope and Contents note
Two cotton flags containing the Chushi Gangdruk logo of crossed swords in black on a solid orange background. One flag contains
a motto
Access
Box 5 may not be used without permission of the Archivist.
art rack
"The Secret PLA Pouch Heads for CIA's K Building, West Tibet," by Keith Woodcock, Framed digital print on canvas
1961 October 25
Conditions Governing Access
May not be used without permission of the Archivist.
map_case
Operational maps of Tibet printed on silk
undated
Additional Incremental Material
box 6
Material not yet described.
box 7
Material not yet described.
box 8
Material not yet described.
Digital materials
Access
Digital materials are not available until processed. If interested in accessing these materials, please contact us for more
information.
box MC4
Roger McCarthy Interview at the University of Toronto
1998 November
Physical Description: 1 optical disk
box MC4
Roger McCarthy interview
undated
Physical Description: 1 DVD
box MC4
Ray Starke - Camp Hale 1959
2010-2013
Physical Description: 5 CDs, digital photographs
box MC3
Ray Starke Camp Hale
1959-1960
Physical Description: 1 optical disk
box MC3
Susie Stapanek "An 'intelligence briefing' on the CIA in Colorado's Back Country"
2009 April 18
Physical Description: 1 optical disk
