Colby Document Index

Read an account of the lunch meeting with William Colby in the Director’s 7th floor office at the CIA during which the Olson family received these documents:

“What Did the C.I.A. Do To Eric Olson’s Father?”
by Michael Ignatieff,
New York Times Magazine,
April 1, 2001.

Read a different account of the experience of receiving these documents:

“The Man Who Knew Too Much.”
by Mary A. Fischer,
GQ Magazine,
January 2000.

Read the New York Times obituary of William Colby, including a description of Colby’s bizarre death by drowning after falling from a canoe:

“William E. Colby, Head of C.I.A. in a Time of Upheaval Dies at 76”
By TIM WEINER,
New York Times,
May 7, 1996.

The Frank Olson Legacy Project

CIA Documents Obtained from William Colby

Director Central Intelligence

July 1975

1. Memorandum For The Case File X-866287 From: M. A. Stevenson (Go to document)	05 Jan 53
2. Employee’s Notice of injury or Occupational Disease (Go to document)	27 Nov 53
3. Telegram Stating Death of Frank R. Olson From: John E. Thompson, Civilian Personnel (Go to document)	28 Nov 53
4. Memorandum For The Record From: Sheffield Edwards Subj: Suicide of Frank Olson, Army Civilian Employee, Camp Dietrich (Go to document)	28 Nov 53
5. Statement By Dr. Harold Abramson Made Sat. 28 Nov 53 (Go to document)	28 Nov 53
6. Memorandum For: Inspector General From: Chief, Inspection and Review Subj: Use of LSD (Go to document)	01 Dec 53
7. Memorandum For the Record Subj: Conversation with Chief of TSS re Olson case (Go to document)	01 Dec 53
8. Memorandum For the Record From: Lyman B. Kirkpatrick, Inspector Gen. Subj: Conversation with Dr. Willis Gibbons Of TSS re Olsen case (Go to document)	01 Dec 53
9. Office Memorandum to Colonel Edwards From: Chief, SSD Subj: Olson, Franklin (Go to document)	02 Dec 53
10. Certificate of Death, Frank Olson (Go to document)	02 Dec 53
11. Office Memorandum to Colonel Edwards (Go to document)	02 Dec 53
12. Special Agent’s Report (Go to document)	03 Dec 53
13. Memorandum For: General Counsel From: Harold A. Abramson, M.D. Subj: Observations on Mr. Frank Olson from 24 November through 27 November 53 (Go to document)	04 Dec 53
14. Memo To Chief, Investigative Division From: Special Agent in Charge Subj: Olsen, Frank, No. 73317 – S. I. (Go to document)	04 Dec 53
15. Statement By Vincent L. Ruwet (Go to document)	Undated
16. Statement By Dr. John L. Schwab (Go to document)	Undated
17. Observations on Dr. Frank Olson – 1951 –1953 By Sidney Gottlieb (Go to document)	07 Dec 53
18. Observations on Dr. Frank Olson By Robert V Lashbrook (Go to document)	07 Dec 53
19. Memo For the Record From: Lawrence R. Houston Subj: Frank R. Olson (Go to document)	09 Dec 53
20. Affidavit Unclear By Alice Smith Wicks Olson (Go to document)	Undated
21. Claim for Compensation By Alice Wicks Olson (Go to document)	14 Dec 53
22. Physician’s Certificate By Lt. Col. Ruwet (Go to document)	14 Dec 53
23. Conversation with Gibbons (Go to document)	14 Dec 53
24. Letter to Bureau of Employee’s Compensation From: Alice Wicks Olson (Go to document)	14 Dec 53
25. Memorandum For the Record By Clyde R. Middleton (Go to document)	17 Dec 53
26. Memorandum For Director of Central Intelligence From: Lyman B. Kirkpatrick Subj: Suicide of Frank Olson (Go to document)	18 Dec 53
27. Memo For Mr. Houston From: Clyde R. Middleton (Go to document)	Undated
28. Letter to Mrs. Alice Wicks Olson (Page Missing) (Go to document)	21 Dec 53
29. Marriage Record By Miles V. Riley, Jr. (Go to document)	22 Dec 53
30. Certificate of Marriage (Go to document)	05 Sep 40
31. Letter to Retirement Division, U.S. Civil Service Commission From: Alice Wicks Olson (Go to document)	29 Dec 53
32. Letter to Bureau of Employees’ Compensation From: Alice Wicks Olson (Go to document)	29 Dec 53
33. Memo For Inspector General From: Lawrence R. Houston Subj: Frank R. Olson (Go to document)	04 Jan 54
34. Routing Slip to Mr. Wisner and Mr. Helms From: L.B.K. (Go to document)	07 Jan (54?)
36. Memo For Director of Security From: Robert H. Cunningham Subj: Lashbrook, Doctor Robert V. #49418 (Go to document)	19 Jan 54
37. Memo For Mr. Dulles From: Luis deFlorez (Go to document)	02 Feb 54
38. Letter from Dr. Harold A. Abramson to CIA Subj: Case Report on patient John Q. Smith (Go to document)	09 Feb 54
39. Memo For Mr. Helms From: CPC (with attachments) (Go to document)	10 Feb 54
40. List of seventeen documents (Go to document)	undated
41. Report of Termination of Total or Partial Disability By: V.L. Ruwet (Go to document)	date unclear
42. Official Superior’s Report of Injury By: V.L. Ruwet (Go to document)	14 Dec 53
43. Report of Termination of Total or Partial Disability By: V.L. Ruwet (Go to document)	14 Dec 53
44. Memo for the Case File By Stevenson (Go to document)	17 Mar 54
45. Excerpts from IG Diary (Go to document)	30 Nov 53 – 02 Feb 54
46. Memorandum Subj: Influencing Human Behavior (Go to document)	29 Aug 73
47. Subject: Frank R. Olson (Go to document)	29 Jan 75
48. Project BLUEBIRD/ARTICHOKE (Go to document)	29 Jan 75
49. Memo For The Record Subj: Project Artichoke (Go to document)	03 Feb 75
50. Memorandum For the Record Subj: Project ARTICHOKE (Go to document)	03 Feb 75
51. Memorandum For Director of Central Intelligence Subj: CIA R&D and Testing of Behavior Drugs From: Donald F. Chamberlain, Inspector General (Go to document)	05 Feb 75
52. Memo For Inspector General From: Charles W. Kane, Dir of Security Alleged Illegal Domestic Activities (Project ARTICHOKE) With Attachment: Memo For The Record 31 Jan 75 Subj: Project ARTICHOKE (In True Name and Sanitized Forms) (Go to document)	07 Feb 75
53. Memorandum for OCG From: Inspector General Subj: Behavioral Drugs (Go to document)	14 Feb 75
54. Memo For DDA From: Charles W. Kane Subj: Alleged Illegal Domestic Activities (Suicide of Frank R. Olson) (Go to document)	11 Jul 75

Note: More documents to be added.

Read the New York Times critique of the Colby documents, from January 11, 1976:

“C.I.A.'s Files on LSD Death Found to be Contradictory”

By JOSEPH B. TREASER
New York Times
January 11, 1976