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United States Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Survey Staff (Yale University) card file
55002  
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Table of contents What's This?
  • Access
  • Use
  • Acquisition Information
  • Preferred Citation
  • Data Sets File Guide
  • Historical Note
  • Scope and Content of Collection
  • Formosa (Taiwan) Data File Guide
  • Ryukyu Islands Data File Guide
  • Arrangement
    • Title: United States. Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Survey Staff (Yale University) card file
    Date (inclusive): 1942
    Collection Number: 55002
    Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
    Language of Material: English
    Physical Description: 39 oversize boxes (15.6 Linear Feet)
    Abstract: Project to compile anthropological information on peoples of the Pacific Islands and East Asia. Notes, photographs, and extracts from printed sources, relating to the people of the Bonin and Izu Islands, the Carolines, Hokkaido, the Kuriles, the Marianas, the Marshalls, Micronesia, Burma, Siam, Indonesia, Nauru, the Ryukyus, and Formosa. Compiled in preparation for Allied military government administration in these areas.
    Creator: United States. Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. Survey Staff (Yale University)
    Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives

    Access

    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 1955.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item], United States Office of the Chief of Naval Operations Survey Staff (Yale University) card file, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

    Data Sets File Guide

    The following data set codes are used for all areas except for Formosa/Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands. From Outline of Cultural Materials: A Working Manual Prepared for Emergency Use by the Cross-Cultural Survey and the Strategic Index of the Americas , Yale University, circa 1943. More detailed information on Codes is available at the Hoover Institution.

    Data Set Codes

    1. 10. Basic data
    2. 11. History and Culture Contact
    3. 12. Total Culture
    4. 13. Language
    5. 14. Communication
    6. 15. Exploitative Activities
    7. 16. Technology
    8. 17. Capital
    9. 18. Housing
    10. 19. Food
    11. 20. Drink and Indulgence
    12. 21. Dress and Adornment
    13. 22. Routine of Living
    14. 23. Labor
    15. 24. Specialization
    16. 25. Exchange
    17. 26. Finance
    18. 27. Transportation
    19. 28. Travel
    20. 29. Recreation
    21. 30. Art
    22. 31. Numbers and Measures
    23. 32. Lore and Learning
    24. 33. Reaction to Nature
    25. 34. Religion
    26. 35. Ethics
    27. 36. Property and Contract
    28. 37. Social Stratification
    29. 38. Family
    30. 39. Kinship
    31. 40. Kin and Local Groups
    32. 41. Government
    33. 42. Law and Social Control
    34. 43. Ingroup Conflict
    35. 44. War and Peace
    36. 45. Human Organism
    37. 46. Sex
    38. 47. Reproduction
    39. 48. Infancy
    40. 49. Childhood
    41. 50. Youth
    42. 51. Marriage
    43. 52. Adulthood
    44. 53. Old Age
    45. 54. Sickness
    46. 55. Death

    Historical Note

    These data files were developed on behalf of the Chief of Naval Operations Cross Cultural Survey Staff at Yale University. They were donated by the Navy Department to the Hoover Institution in November 1955.
    From this raw data, a series of Civil Affairs Handbooks were prepared at the School of Naval Administration at Columbia University, in the period of 1943-1945, to be used by military government organizations moving into the areas surrendered by the Japanese.
    For a working project outline the Cross Cultural Survey staff adapted an index and outline guide that had been set up for processing anthropological data concerning indigenous cultures of the Americas. A highly trained staff reviewed materials in western languages and some in Japanese. Abstracts and condensations of useful information were put on 5x8 inch slips and filed according to a numerical key to the Cross Cultural Survey outline.
    Five sets of the files were established, with one each at Yale University, Columbia University, the Smithsonian Institution, the Fifth Naval District Intelligence Office (New York), and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations at Washington.
    Two research units were established at Columbia University. Under the direction of Commander George P. Murdock, one unit prepared Civil Affairs Handbooks for the Japanese mandated islands, the Ryukyus, and the Izu and Bonin Islands. The other, under the direction of Lieutenant George H. Kerr, prepared ten Handbooks (one covering the Formosa as a unit, one each for eight administrative subdivisions, and one Economic Supplement, done in cooperation with the Department of Commerce). Contributions were made to other agencies preparing Handbooks concerning Fisheries and Agriculture in Formosa. Materials were assembled for a Handbook on the aboriginal people of Formosa, but this was not completed before the military decision to bypass Formosa was made, and the intensive Formosa research and training program was abandoned.
    In 1946 one set of Formosa materials was transferred from the Navy Department (Washington) through the Department of State to the American Consulate in Taipei. The Smithsonian set is reportedly at the Library of Congress. Two sets of Formosa materials used at Columbia in preparing the Navy Handbooks series are now in the Hoover Institution together with duplicate sets of material on Micronesia, the Ryukyus, and other areas.

    Scope and Content of Collection

    The survey file has been divided into island groups as follows:
    I. Bonun and Izu Islands
    II. Carolines
    Eastern Carolines
    East Central Carolines
    Western Carolines
    West Central Carolines
    III. Hokkaido
    IV. Kuriles
    V. Marianas
    VI. Marshalls
    VII. Micronesia
    VIII. Nauru
    IX. Ryukyus
    X. Formosa (Taiwan)
    Bibliography Section, Formosa (Taiwan)
    Geographical Section, Formosa (Taiwan)
    Topical Section, Formosa (Taiwan)
    Burma, Siam and Indonesia
    The group is indicated in the upper right hand corner of the card. The cards for most island groups are coded by numbers by country following the numeric codes in the Outline of Cultural Materials: A working Manual Prepared for Emergency use by the Cross-Cultural Survey and the Strategic Index of the Americas, Volume II, Yale Anthropological Studies. A copy is available at the Hoover Institution.
    In the upper left hand corner of each card appear three or four numbers (i.e. 1453) which are always underscored or checked by pencil. This is the survey number. The first two numerals (i.e. 14) indicate the major classification. Each major classification is then subdivided into minor classed by the third numeral, (i.e. 5). The minor classes may then be subdivided into sub-minor classes, indicated by the forth numeral (i.e. 3) 1453 would then be filed as class 14, minor group 5, sub-minor group 3. A sub-minor group is not always given.
    Above the survey number is a source citation to the book number, author's name, and page number. Cards were filed by survey number, and within each survey number by book. For filing purposes, the author's name is ignored.
    In the O.N.I./Cross Cultural Survey Files is a Data File Guide. This document contains an explanation of the subject matter of each major classification and its corresponding sub-divisions.
    Island groups I-VII are explained in the Yale University Index. Group IX, the Ryukyus, uses the same basic system as Groups I through VIII except that the fourth numeral, for sub-minor groups, is not used in the survey number.
    Group X, Formosa (Taiwan) is based on a different classification system due to its complexity and size. The original Index and Outline was devised for a body of materials concerning primitive societies. It served its purpose well in supporting research and publication on Micronesia, and was used in preparing the Civil Affairs Handbook for the Ryukyus. It was inadequate for filing data descriptive of the complex social and economic organization of contemporary Formosa.
    The Formosa files at Columbia University were thereby recast. One set was organized under geographic headings, with topical subdivisions subordinate to the geographic divisions. A duplicate set was organized under topical headings, with geographic subdivisions wherever this could be done appropriately.
    A substantial collection of photographs and photo-negatives is interfiled at appropriate places throughout these sets.
    One set of Formosa materials at the Hoover Institution is set up under geographic headings, with topical subdivisions; the other is arranged under topical headings with geographic subdivision. Two set of materials for each of the other areas continue to be arranged according to the numerical Index of the original Cross Cultural Survey processing.
    Note: In the course of repeated transfers between 1944 and 1955 the files were seriously disarranged. Persons using the files are requested to call attention to misfiled items.

    Formosa (Taiwan) Data File Guide

    The arrangement of the Formosa data files at the Hoover Institute does not follow the numerical index system prepared at New Haven by the Cross Cultural Survey staff. The original Index and Outline was devised for a body of materials concerning primitive societies. It served its purpose well in supporting research and publication on Micronesia, and was used in preparing the Civil Affairs Handbook for the Ryukyus. It was inadequate for filing data descriptive of the complex social and economic organization of contemporary Formosa.
    The Formosa files at Columbia University were thereby recast. One set was organized under geographic headings, with topical subdivisions subordinate to the geographic divisions. A duplicate set was organized under topical headings, with geographic subdivisions wherever this could be done appropriately.
    The present Index Guide represents the arrangement of materials within the Topical File.
    Note: In the course of repeated transfers between 1944 and 1955 the files were seriously disarranged. Persons using the files are requested to call attention to misfiled items.
    More detailed information on Codes is available at the Hoover Institution

    Formosa/Taiwan Data Set Codes

    1. 1100. Geography
    2. 1200. Maps and Mapping
    3. 1300. Natural Resources
    4. 1400. History
    5. 1500. Who's Who
    6. 2000. Population, Customs, and Characteristics
    7. 2100. Population, Customs, and Characteristics
    8. 2200. Languages, Dialects, Signs, Gestures
    9. 2300. Living Conditions, Relief and Welfare
    10. 2400. Health and Sanitation
    11. 2500. Education
    12. 2600. Religion
    13. 2700. Press
    14. 2800. Propaganda and Censorship
    15. 2900. Societies and Associations
    16. 3000. Colonial Policy and Foreign Relations
    17. 3100. Taiwan Government - General
    18. 3200. Provincial Government
    19. 3300. Local Government
    20. 3400. Civil Rights and Political Movements
    21. 3500. Property and Contract
    22. 3600. Law
    23. 3700. Police and Law Enforcement
    24. 3800. Courts and Judiciary
    25. 4000. Economics: General
    26. 4100. Agriculture
    27. 4200. Fishing and Marine Products
    28. 4300. Forest Products
    29. 4400. Mining and Metallurgy
    30. 4500. Manufacture and Industry
    31. 4600. Motive Power and Utilities
    32. 4700. Transportation
    33. 4800. Railroad Transportation
    34. 4900. Land Transportation (other than Railroad)
    35. 5000. Water Transportation
    36. 5100. Air Transportation (civil and military)
    37. 5200. Communications
    38. 5300. Labor
    39. 5400. Trade and Commerce
    40. 5500. Finance
    41. 5600. War and National Defense
    42. 5700. Civil Affairs: Data and Problems

    Ryukyu Islands Data File Guide

    Simplified Data File Guide based on the Outline of Cultural Materials: A Working Manual Prepared for Emergency Use by the Cross-Cultural Survey and the Strategic Index of the Americas , Yale University, circa 1943. More detailed information on Codes is available at the Hoover Institution.

    Ryukyu Islands Data Codes

    1. 10. Basic Data
    2. 11. History
    3. 12. Local and Regional Culture
    4. 13. Language
    5. 14. Communications
    6. 15. Resources
    7. 16. Technology and Manufactures
    8. 17. Capital
    9. 18. Housing and Community Organization
    10. 19. Food
    11. 20. Drink, Narcotics, and Stimulants
    12. 21. Dress and Adornment
    13. 22. Living Conditions and Routine
    14. 23. Labor Supply and Organization
    15. 24. Divisions of Labor and Specialization
    16. 25. Trade and Marketing
    17. 26. Finance - including Insurance
    18. 27. Transportation - including Warehousing
    19. 28. Population Movements, Travel
    20. 29. Recreation
    21. 30. Aesthetics - Art and Literature
    22. 31. Numbers and Measures
    23. 32. Education - Lore and Learning
    24. 33. Attitudes toward Nature
    25. 34. Religion
    26. 35. Ethics
    27. 36. Communal Attitudes
    28. 37. Social Structure
    29. 38. Family Organization
    30. 39. Kinship System
    31. 40. Social Organization
    32. 41. Government
    33. 42. Law and Social Control
    34. 43. Ingroup Conflict
    35. 44. War and Peace
    36. 45. Human Organism
    37. 46. Sex
    38. 47. Reproduction
    39. 48. Infancy
    40. 49. Childhood
    41. 50. Youth
    42. 51. Marriage
    43. 52. Adulthood
    44. 53. Old Age
    45. 54. Sickness
    46. 55. Death

    Arrangement

    Arranged by country following the numeric codes in the Outline of Cultural Materials: A working Manual Prepared for Emergency use by the Cross-Cultural Survey and the Strategic Index of the Americas, Volume II, Yale Anthropological Studies

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    World War, 1939-1945 -- United States
    Military government
    Ethnology -- East Asia
    Ethnology -- Oceania
    Collection Contents
    I. Bonun and Izu Islands
    II. Carolines
    Eastern Carolines
    East Central Carolines
    Western Carolines
    West Central Carolines
    III. Hokkaido
    IV. Kuriles
    V. Marianas
    VI. Marshalls
    VII. Micronesia
    VIII. Nauru
    IX. Ryukyus
    X. Formosa (Taiwan)
    Geographical Section, Formosa (Taiwan)
    Burma, Siam and Indonesia
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