Kennedy Library Opens Four Collections of Personal Papers

For Immediate Release: August 10, 2001
Further information: Tom McNaught (617) 514-1662

Boston, MA – Researchers, libraries, members of the press, and members of the public are advised that the John F. Kennedy Library has processed and made available for research three additional collections of personal papers of individuals associated with the administration of President John F. Kennedy. A fourth collection of personal papers will be available by summer’s end. The Library’s holdings currently include 246 collections of personal papers.

The Personal Papers of George W. Ball, Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, 1961 and the Under Secretary of State, 1961-1966 have been opened for research. The nine boxes in this collection consist of one series: Memoranda of telephone conversations between Ball and his numerous professional colleagues and contacts. The documents in this collection cover the period from 1961 to 1963 and are arranged alphabetically by subject. Highlights of the collection include activities of the Department of State during the Kennedy administration.

The Personal Papers of Richard N. Goodwin, Assistant Special Counsel and speechwriter to President Kennedy, 1961; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American affairs, 1961-1962; Director, International Peace Corps Secretariat, 1962-1964 have been opened for research. This collection consists of memoranda, correspondence, position papers, proposals, reports, meetings minutes, speeches and drafts, created and collected by Richard N. Goodwin. These twelve boxes cover the time period from 1961 to 1965 and are arranged alphabetically by subject. Highlights of the collection include files on the Alliance for Progress and the President’s Advisory Council on the Arts.

After an additional review, further materials from the Personal Papers of Roger Hilsman, Director, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Department of State, 1961-1963 and Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs, 1963-1964 have been opened for research. The personal papers of Roger Hilsman cover the time period of January 1961 to March 1964. Highlights of the collection include files on Laos, Vietnam, and INR (Bureau of Intelligence and Research).

The Personal Papers of Ralph A. Dungan, Special Assistant to the President, 1961-1964; U.S. Ambassador to Chile, 1964-1967; Chancellor of Higher Education, State of New Jersey, 1967-1977 will be opened by summer’s end. Approximately 30 feet of the collection is unprocessed and remains closed. The twenty-six open boxes in this collection consist of four series: Special Assistant Files, 1961-1964; Ambassador to Chile Files, 1964-1967; Chancellor of Higher Education Files, 1967-1977; Post-Chancellor Files, 1978. This collection consists of correspondence, articles, drafts, memoranda, reports and speeches created and collected by Ralph A. Dungan. The papers cover the time period from 1960 to 1978.

The collections are available for research use in the Library’s Research Room. The hours of operation are Monday – Friday from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm and appointments may be made by calling (617) 514-1629.

Materials housed at the John F. Kennedy Library have come to the presidential archives through two routes. The first is as Federal records, which come from executive departments, commissions and committees of the Federal government. Access to these materials is controlled by the originating agency. In addition, many of these materials contain national security classified information, which under laws and executive orders must be reviewed by the appropriate agency for possible declassification. Some of the materials, such as civil rights cases or litigation, also have privacy restrictions.

The second route is as personal papers, which come from individuals under deeds of gift and deposit agreements negotiated between the National Archives and Records Administration and the donor or his/her heirs. These materials, called "donated historical materials", comprise the bulk of the Library’s holdings. Deeds of gift and deposit agreements cover the administration of the collections as well as the title, literary rights, and any restrictions requested by the donor or necessitated by the nature of the materials. Many donors retain literary rights and/or restrict personal financial or medical information. A review of personal papers for national security classified information also sometimes occurs depending upon the nature of the papers themselves.

The John F. Kennedy Library's Archives includes 36 million pages of documents from the collections of 340 individuals, organizations, or government agencies; oral history interviews with 1,300 people; and over 30,000 books. The Audiovisual Archives administers collections of over 400,000 still photographs, 8,550,000 feet of motion picture film, 1,200 hours of video recordings, over 9,000 hours of audio recordings and 500 original editorial cartoons.

The John F. Kennedy Library and Museum is a presidential library administered by the National Archives and Records Administration and supported, in part, by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, a non-profit organization. The Kennedy Library and the Kennedy Library Foundation seek to promote, through educational and community programs, a greater appreciation and understanding of American politics, history, and culture, the process of governing and the importance of public service.