An Inventory of His Papers, 1917-1963
At the John F. Kennedy Library
National Archives and Records Administration
Administrative Information
Biographical Note
Collection Overview
List of Series
Series Description
Administrative Information
Abstract
PERSONAL PAPERS, 1917-1963
Student, Choate Academy (1932-35), Princeton University (1935-36), Harvard College (1936-40), Stanford University (1941); Naval Officer (1941-45); Representative (1947-53) and Senator (1953-61) from Massachusetts; President of the United States (1961-63). This is an artificial subcollection of the Papers of John F. Kennedy created by library staff for the convenience of research use. It brings together items originated by or associated with John F. Kennedy, particularly from the years prior to his Presidency. The collection is diverse and fragmentary. It includes childhood letters, diaries, correspondence, academic records (copies donated by Harvard University) and notebooks, financial papers, Navy records including medical files, medical records, records relating to the investigation of the sinking of the S.S. Athenia (copies donated by the State Department), manuscripts of Why England Slept (1940) and Profiles in Courage (1956), some Boston office House of Representatives files, Presidential doodles, and scrapbooks. Includes Historical Manuscripts and Autographs formerly listed as a separate collection (Manuscripts 18th to 20th centuries, presented to President Kennedy or given to the John F. Kennedy Library). Includes documents signed by George Washington, John Adams, Daniel Webster, William Howard Taft, and several letters written by a Union soldier during the Civil War.
Access
Open. Portions permission required.
Usage Restrictions
Literary property rights to manuscripts or other writings that John F. Kennedy wrote for publication have been retained by his heirs. Literary property rights to the rest of John F. Kennedy's materials donated as the Papers of John F. Kennedy have been assigned to the United States. State Department documents are in the public domain.
Copyright
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excesses of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law. The copyright law extends its protection to unpublished works from the moment of creation in a tangible form. Direct your questions concerning copyright to the reference staff.
Provenance
Most of the material included in the John F. Kennedy Personal Papers was donated to the Kennedy Library in 1965, as part of the Papers of John F. Kennedy. The Harvard Records were donated by Harvard University in 1966, the microfilm of the Athenia Affair was donated by the State Department in 1965. Other items donated by individuals or organizations are appropriately noted.
Extent
About 44,000 pages (26 linear feet, 11 linear inches ; 30.3 cubic feet).
21 microfilm rolls
Withdrawn Items
Portions of material included in this subcollection were first opened to research use in 1969. Other portions remain closed at this time in accordance with restrictions in the Kennedy deed of gift. The deed restricts materials that relate to the personal, family and business affairs of John Fitzgerald Kennedy and his family, materials containing statements which may be used to injure, embarrass, or harass any person, materials which contain statements made by or to John F. Kennedy in confidence, materials which may prejudice the conduct of foreign relations of the United States, and materials which were security classified pursuant to law or executive order.
A documents withdrawal sheet identifying each document restricted by the deed has been placed at the beginning of each folder from which restricted material has been withdrawn. This closed material is periodically reviewed by the Library and is opened when the restrictions no longer apply.
One complete series, thirteen boxes of personal accounts and bills of John F. Kennedy's, remains closed in accordance with the deed of gift. One series, Senator's Notes, is presently closed, but will be opened as soon as handwriting is transcribed and subject matter identified properly [Senator's Notes was opened 18 September 1990]. Approximately 50 other documents have been removed and placed under seal.
All withdrawn documents have been placed under seal and upon request the Kennedy Library will review any material which has been closed for a period of not less than 2 years for the purpose of opening items which no longer require restrictions. Researchers should consult the reference staff to obtain the appropriate form(s).
Date Opened
1969
January 1977
Medical Records, December 2002
Processed by
Joan R. Hoopes
Revisions
Finding Aid updated in December 2002 by James M. Roth
Encoded by
James M. Roth
The Personal Papers of John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)
Biographical Note
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was born on 29 May 1917 to Joseph P. Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy of Brookline, Massachusetts. John Kennedy, the second of nine children, attended Choate Academy (1932-1935), Princeton University (1935-36), Harvard College (1936-40), and Stanford Business School (1941). In 1940, he published a book based on his senior thesis entitled "Why England Slept." The book criticized British policy of appeasement. In 1941, Kennedy enlisted in the Navy. In August 1943, Kennedy was commanding PT 109 near the Solomon Islands when it was run over a Japanese destroyer. Kennedy was awarded the Purple Heart, and it took the rest of the war for him to recover from his injuries. In 1945, Kennedy became a special writer for the Hearst press. In 1946, Kennedy was elected to the U.S. House of Representative. In 1952, he ran for the Senate and defeated Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. In 1954, he married Jacqueline Bouvier, and the couple had three children: Caroline, John Jr., and Patrick, who died as an infant. In 1956 he campaigned for the Democratic vice-presidential nomination but lost a close race to Senator Estes Kefauver of Tennessee. After General Eisenhower's victory in 1956, Kennedy began to pursue the 1960 Democratic presidential nomination. Kennedy won the nomination over Senators Hubert H. Humphrey and Lyndon B. Johnson. With Johnson as his running mate, Kennedy faced Vice-President Richard M. Nixon in the general election. The campaign featured the first televised debate between presidential candidates. Kennedy became the youngest elected president in U.S. history at the age of forty-three, and the first to be born in the twentieth century. He was also the first Catholic to hold the nation's highest office.
Collection Overview
The John F. Kennedy Personal Papers is a subcollection of the Papers of John F. Kennedy. Other main subcollections of the Papers of John F. Kennedy are the Pre-presidential Papers, the Presidential Papers and the Papers of the Post Assassination Period. Researchers should consult separate finding aids or ask a member of the Library staff about these other subcollections.
The John F. Kennedy Personal Papers collection is an artificial grouping of papers created by the Kennedy Library. This collection brings together items of a personal nature which were originated by or associated with John F. Kennedy, particularly prior to his becoming President. Some materials have been obtained from other collections in the Library or from personal and organizational donations. As additional items of a personal nature become available for research use, they will be added. The John F. Kennedy Personal Papers include materials dating from Kennedy's childhood through November 1963. For the most part, these materials are of a diverse and fragmentary nature and do not represent anything like a complete documentation of personal activities during this time span. The subcollection is composed of 14 series: Series 1. Biographical Materials; Series 2. Early Years; Series 3. Harvard; Series 4. Athenia Affair; Series 5. Correspondence, 1933-1950; Series 6. Correspondence 1943-1952; Series 7. Boston Office, 1940-1956; Series 8. Naval Records; Series 9. Accounts and Bills, 1941-1958; Series 10. Manuscripts; Series 11. Senator's Notes, 1953-1955; Series 12. Doodles; Series 13. Historical Documents Collection; and Series 14. Medical Records, 1950-1963.
Series 2-4, entitled Early Years, Harvard and Athenia Affair, are concerned with the years from Kennedy's childhood through his graduation from Harvard in June 1940. Included are childhood letters, a diary, correspondence and records from The Choate Academy where Kennedy was a student from 1931 to 1935, academic records from Harvard University, lecture notebooks and other materials from Kennedy's student days at Harvard, and a microfilm of State Department records concerning the sinking of the Athenia, a crisis in which Kennedy became involved as the representative of his father, Joseph P. Kennedy, then U.S. Ambassador to England.
Series 6. Correspondence, 1943-1952, and Series 7. Boston Office, 1940-1956 were previously included within other collections of John F. Kennedy papers, but are now included here because of their primarily personal nature. Each contains some personal correspondence, materials relating to the period when Kennedy was emerging as a public figure, background materials, some quasi-political and some legislative materials. The Boston Office series contains Kennedy's naval records and a few items from 1945, while he was a special correspondent for Hearst newspapers.
Series 10. Manuscripts is arranged into four subseries: Kennedy's senior thesis at Harvard, "Appeasement at Munich"; Why England Slept (1940); Profiles in Courage (1956); and The Strategy of Peace (1960).
Series 11. Senator's Notes was opened 18 September 1990. It was closed in order to verify handwriting and to review the contents. Material includes notes and drafts of speeches, ideas for Profiles in Courage, and some miscellaneous material in John Kennedy's hand.
Series 12. Doodles is a collection of notes, reminders and jottings, primarily in Kennedy's hand, between 1952 and 1963, collected and catalogued by his personal secretary, Mrs. Evelyn Lincoln.
Series 13. Historical Documents consists of copies of letters and other documents which were written by various historical figures. These documents were either purchased by John F. Kennedy, or given to him as a gift. Kennedy also collected the signatures of Massachusetts governors. The material in this series was integrated from the Historical Manuscripts and Autographs Collection into The John F. Kennedy Personal Papers in February 1996.
Series 14. Medical Records, is an open, permission required series. Researchers should consult with the Reference Archivist to determine access requirements. The Medical Records are arranged in two series: Subseries 14.1. Attending Physician's Records, 1950-1964 and Subseries 14.1. X-Rays, 1942-1963. Attending Physician's Records contains the medical records of John F. Kennedy, documenting his health care from 1942-1964. There are gaps in the record, mostly from the earlier period.
List of Series
Description
Series 1. Biographical Materials.
About 1/2 box.
Arrangement: by subject.
Includes genealogical material and data assembled by the Kennedy Library. A lengthy compilation prepared in 1952 by Timothy J. Reardon, Jr., of Kennedy's Congressional staff, includes materials relating to Kennedy's views on foreign and domestic affairs. Also included are handouts, resumes and directory questionnaires.
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Box 1
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Data
Genealogical Data
Reardon's 1952 Compilation (5 folders)
Miscellaneous Biographies
1948 - 1952, and undated
John F. Kennedy's Will
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Series 2. Early Years, 1928-1940.
About 1/2 box.
Arrangement: chronological then alphabetical.
Materials dating from Kennedy's childhood. For the most part, these materials are of a diverse and fragmentary nature and do not represent anything like a complete documentation of personal activities during this time span. Includes letters written by John F. Kennedy from 1929 through 1940, correspondence between the Kennedy family and administration and faculty of Choate School between 1929 and 1963, a copy of the 1935 Choate School yearbook, The Brief, and other materials from the period of John F. Kennedy's youth. It is arranged with correspondence at the beginning, arranged chronologically, followed by other subjects, arranged alphabetically. Researchers should note souvenirs may also be found in
Subseries 5.2. Souvenirs, 1940-1950
;
Subseries 6.1. Correspondence, Personal File
, and
Subseries 7.1. Boston Office, Personal File.
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Box 1
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Child Health Record, 1928
Correspondence
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1929 - 1935
1936 - 1940
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Choate School Archives - Outline
Choate School Yearbook, 1935
Diary, European Trip, 1937
Harvard Athletic Award, 1937
Harvard Commencement Program, 1940
School Report, "Francis the First," undated
School Report, "Jean Jacques Rousseau," undated
Souvenirs
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Passport, 1935 (other passports see Box 6)
Athenia Clipping, 1939
Clippings, 1940
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Series 3. Harvard.
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Subseries 3.1. Harvard Records.
1 box.
Arrangement: chronological.
Copies of archival material relating to the academic career of John F. Kennedy from the files of Harvard University were donated by the University in 1966. Included are pre-enrollment materials, academic records, records and photographs of activities, one copy of John F. Kennedy's honors thesis, 1964 Harvard correspondence with former professors of Kennedy and some newspaper clippings, 1960-1964, which relate to Kennedy's student days. A document list is included at the front of each archives box. Xerox copies of photographs have replaced original prints, which are now in the audiovisual collection of the Library, as is one roll of microfilm of the records. |
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Box 2
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Table of contents
Pre-enrollment material, 1935-1936
Academic Records
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1936-1937
1937-1938
1938-1939
1939-1940
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Activities
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1936-1937
1937-1938
1938-1939
1939-1940
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Appeasement at Munich, honors thesis 3/15/40 (3 folders)
Miscellaneous Material
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JFK at Harvard
1946-1964
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Newspaper clippings: JFK at Harvard
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Subseries 3.2. Harvard Notebooks.
About 11/2 boxes.
Arrangement: chronological.
Includes ledgers containing identifiable lecture notes in John F. Kennedy's hand, unidentifiable course fragments, typewritten and mimeograph handouts and typescript course papers from Kennedy's work at Harvard. Five departmental examination books and the baccalaureate service program, 6/12/40, are also included. Arranged chronologically where course is known, with complete volumes first, followed by unidentified materials and souvenir items. |
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Box 3
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Course listing
Government 1: 1937-1938 (2 folders)
Fine Arts 1e: 1937-1938 (3 folders)
Government 30: 1937-1938 (2nd semester)
Government 7a: 1938-1939 (1st semester) (2 folders)
Government 28: 1939-1940 (1st semester) (2 folders)
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Box 4
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Government 4: 1939-1940
Government 4, case 82: 10/23/39
Government 4, case 99: 11/15/39
History 66 - L. Neilson, Jr.
History 66, miscellany
Federalism
I. Introduction A. Federalism
R.R. Combination
Topic 2. Fascism [fragment]
Comments on the Russian Regime
Failure of Competitive Industry
International Relations
Economic Principles
League of Nations [course paper]
British White Paper [course paper]
Division of History, Government and Economics
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Division Examinations for A.B. degree
1934-1935 - 1938-1939
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Baccalaureate Service Program, 6/12/40
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Series 4. Athenia Affair.
Medium: microfilm.
About 1/2 box.
Arrangement: .
Includes copies of records of the American Embassy in London, September through December 1939, pertaining to the sinking of the passenger ship Athenia on September 4, 1939. John F. Kennedy, in London on a term's leave from Harvard, aided his father, Joseph P. Kennedy, the Ambassador to the Court of St. James, in dealing with this crisis. Representing his father, he traveled to Glasgow, Scotland, where many of the American survivors were housed until their passage to the United States could be arranged. These records include State Department messages, communications with public officials in Glasgow and elsewhere, passenger lists and correspondence with concerned private citizens, some by John F. Kennedy. The microfilm was donated to the Kennedy Library by the State Department in 1965 (MS65-111). One folder of material included in box 4 contains copies of documents from the Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, New York, obtained by the Kennedy Library in 1977.
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Box 4
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Selected Correspondence
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Series 5. Correspondence, 1933-1950.
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Subseries 5.1. Family, 1940-1947.
About 1/3 box.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Correspondence with family is mainly incoming mail to John F. Kennedy from members of his family. Other items include letters from John F. Kennedy, letters between various members of the family, and formal tributes to Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Researchers interested in Kennedy family correspondence should consult the Joseph P. Kennedy Papers. |
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Box 4A
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Kennedy Family, Original Folder
Connolly, Loretta
[Green?], Marie
Kennedy, Eunice
Kennedy, Joseph P., Jr.
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Letters and Telegrams, 1940-1944
Condolence Mail (4 folders)
As We Remember Joe - Memoirs by Edward M. Kennedy and Unidentified Person with JFK editing
Boston Tributes
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Kennedy, Joseph P., Sr.
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General Correspondence, 1940-1946
Letter to Kathleen Kennedy
Letters to JFK, 1940-1945 & undated
Letters from JFK, 1939-1942 & undated
Letter from Rose F. Kennedy, 10/12/47
Letter from James M. Landis, 3/10/42
Newsclipping, 11/8/40
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Kennedy, Kathleen
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Correspondence, 1942-1947 and undated
Photograph, 1940
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Kennedy, Patricia
Kennedy, Robert F.
Kennedy, Rose F., 1941-1947
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Subseries 5.2. Souvenirs, 1940-1950.
About 1/3 box.
Arrangement: alphabetical by type.
Programs; handwriting analyses of Kathleen Kennedy, Lemoyne Billings and an unidentified person; newsclippings; ration books and identity cards from London; and other items which seem to have been saved for their souvenir value. Researchers should note souvenirs may also be found in
Series 2. Early Years
;
Subseries 6.1. Correspondence, Personal File
; and
Subseries 7.1. Boston Office, Personal File.
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Box 4A
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Calling Cards, London
Editorials on John F. Kennedy, 1950
Handwriting Analyses
Identity Cards, England, 1945
Lahey Clinic Correspondence, 2/15/47
Menu from Dinner with President of Peru, 1941
Newsclippings on John F. Kennedy, 1940
Playbill, "The Drunkard"
Ration Books, England, 1945
Shreve, Crump & Low Correspondence, 8/24/44
"A Youth Looks East," Anonymous Essay on Why England Slept
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Subseries 5.3. Friends, 1933-1947.
About 11/3 boxes.
Arrangement: alphabetical and chronological.
Correspondence with friends consists chiefly of incoming correspondence to John F. Kennedy from friends. In many cases, the letters are signed only by a first name or a nickname. The library staff has attempted to identify the writers of these letters. We have enclosed a few surnames in brackets - [ ] - and placed a question mark after them. This indicates that we are not sure we have correctly identified the writer's surname. There are several letters which are only identified by a first name or nickname because we do not know the writer's entire name. Letters with unknown surnames follow the other letters, and are arranged alphabetically by first name or nickname. Following all of the letters are telegrams to John F. Kennedy from friends. The telegrams are arranged chronologically by year. |
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Box 4A
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Anderson, France
Arvad, Inga
Astor, Lady Margaret
[Atkinson?], Joe
Biddle, Margaret
Bilainkin, George
Billings, K. Lemoyne
[Carcano?], Michael
Carcano, Stella (Baby)
[Cawley?], Olive
Clark, Blair
[Coleman?], Johnny
Coleman, William C. (Moe)
Cotter, Polly
Cross, James J.
Cudahy, John
[De La Vega?], Alfredo
Devonshire, Duchess of
Dow, Josephine P.
Fay, Paul B.
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Box 4B
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Fraser, Hugh
Graham, James
Hazel, Robert W.
Hersey, Frances Ann
Horton, Ralph (Rip)
Houghton, Charles G.
Hugo, Mary
James, Henry (Hank)
Langlois, Mrs. J.
Lannan, J. Patrick
Loughboro, Anthony
Luce, Clare Booth
Macdonald, Torbert H. (Torby)
[Maguire, John E.?] (Mac)
Marvin, L. F.
Masters, Parkie
[McDonnell?], Anne
[McDonnell?], Charlotte
[Merriweather Post], Dennie
Pelaez, Rene
Price, Harriet (Flip)
Pritchett, Florence (Flo)
Reedy, James (Jim)
Rosslyn, Earl of
Sanchez, Johnny
Schaeffer, Peter
Seymour, James (Jim)
Smith, Ben
Spalding, Charles
Spencer, Barbara A.
St. John, George
St. John, Seymour
Thom, Leonard
Tici, Christine L.
Tracy, Kay
Warren, [Parrish T.?]
Waters, B (Bunny)
Wincote, Marion L.
Adelle
Alice
Amber
Anne
Brent
Charlotte (not McDonnell)
Dark Horse
Dev
Dick
Dolly
Don
Dozo
Dunk
Harry
Helen
Joe
Johnny
Mike
Pete
Rosita
Rous
Sheila
Sistie R.
Veronica
Victoria
Vivi
Unsigned, Incomplete and Miscellaneous Items
Telegrams, 1933-1946 & undated (5 folders)
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Subseries 5.4. Gene Schoor: Young John Kennedy.
1 folder.
Arrangement: chronological.
Open as of July 1991
Contains photocopies of some of John F. Kennedy's early letters and progress reports from the Choate School which Schoor used to write Young John Kennedy. The location of the originals is unknown. |
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Box 4B
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Gene Schoor Young John Kennedy File
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Series 6. Correspondence, 1943-1952.
These files retain their original folder titles in most cases, although they have been rearranged since their acquisition by the Library as part of the papers of John F. Kennedy. They were formerly included as part of the Pre-Presidential Papers subcollection. For additional material on John Kennedy during this period, the researcher should consult the Pre-Presidential Papers, House Files and Campaign Files series, scrapbooks from the period and the Boston Office files in this collection.
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Subseries 6.1. Personal.
2 boxes.
Arrangement: chronological.
Personal file contains family and general correspondence, telegrams, greetings, congratulations and souvenirs. Included are two subject entries, "Outstanding Man of the Year Award", for which John F. Kennedy was selected in 1947, and "Robert Kennedy Wedding" in 1950. Of note are 1943 letters from Kennedy while he was in the Navy and a 1948 letter from Robert Kennedy to his parents regarding his trip to Palestine. Researchers should note souvenirs may also be found in
Series 2. Early Years
;
Subseries 5.2. Souvenirs, 1940-1950
; and
Subseries 7.1. Boston Office, Personal File.
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Box 5
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1943 - family
1943-1944 - clippings
1944-1946 - general (3 folders)
1946 - congratulatory messages
1947
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family
general
congratulatory messages
Outstanding Young Man of the Year Award
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1948
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family
general
miscellaneous
greetings and cards
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1949
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family
general (2 folders)
miscellaneous
greetings and cards
politics
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Box 6
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1950
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family
general
miscellaneous
greetings and cards
Robert F. Kennedy wedding (2 folders)
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1951
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family
general
greetings and cards
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1952
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general
greetings and cards
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Souvenirs
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narrative on sinking of P.T. 109 and rescue, 8/22/43
election to congress and related material, 11/46 - 1/47
Choate Alumni Bulletin, 1/47
telegram for Congressman Joseph Patrick Kennedy, 1/1/47
purchase of automobile, 2/22/47
address to Congress on situation in Greece, 3/12/47
VFW Oak Square Brighton Post 10 Mile Handicap Road Race, 3/20/47
debate on Taft - Hartley Bill, 4/16/47
address by Miguel Aleman, President of the United Mexican States, 5/1/47
thank you's for circus tickets, 5/47
notice of reelection to Congress, 11/2/48
statement before the Committee on Foreign Relations of the United States Senate, 3/22/51
H. R. 5879, 1/8/52
Joseph P. Kennedy Carrier photos
newsclippings, 1944-1947
passports, 1941 - 1947 (see also Box 1)
passport application file, 1936 - 1956 [Material in this folder was received by the John F. Kennedy Library in May, 1966 and assigned accession number MS 66-52. It was integrated into the John F. Kennedy Personal Papers in May, 1995.]
U. S. Navy Identification Card
miscellaneous items
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Subseries 6.2. Subject File.
4 boxes.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Contains personal material, some material of a quasi-political nature, such as the VFW Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Post, and some directly related to John F. Kennedy's career as a legislator, such as early appointment books and materials on his 1951 European trip. |
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Box 7
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Air Merchant Marine Act, 1949
Americans for Democratic Action, 1950-1952
Appointments, 1947-1951 (4 folders)
Boston File, 1/31/47-2/6/47
Civilian Defense, 10/10/49-7/23/50
Compulsory Automobile Insurance, 1/50-2/50 [2 folders]
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Box 8
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Economics, Post War: miscellaneous speeches and pamphlets
European trip correspondence, 1948
European trip, 1951
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correspondence
news releases
articles, clippings
memoranda, notes, background materials
Yugoslavia comments
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Harvard University Alumni correspondence, 1946-1950 [7 folders]
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Box 9
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Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Naval Career [Material in this folder was received by the John F. Kennedy Library in February, 1984 and assigned accession number MS 84-29. It was integrated into the John F. Kennedy Personal Papers in July, 1996.]
Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Naval Career - Aphrodite [Material in this folder was received by the John F. Kennedy Library in September, 1994 and assigned accession number MS 94-72. It was integrated into the John F. Kennedy Personal Papers in July, 1996.]
Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation 1946-1952 [10 folders]
New York office 1949-1952 [3 folders]
Remarks in House of Representatives
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1947
undated
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Box 10
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Requests for funds 12/46 - 1/48 [9 folders]
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Post, 1946-1951 [3 folders]
Washington office 1947-1952 [5 folders]
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Series 7. Boston Office, 1940-1956.
John F. Kennedy opened a Boston office in 1946, at the time of his election to the U. S. Congress from the Eleventh District, Massachusetts. The Boston Office files included here are a small part of the files from that office. Many files from the Boston Office seem to have been lost over the years. This portion of the Boston Office files is a miscellany of Kennedy family papers, containing two subseries: 7.1. Personal File, and 7.2. Political Miscellany, 1945-1956. Other Boston Office files may be found in the Pre-Presidential Papers, where this small portion was formerly located. This series is best used in conjunction with appropriate files in the Pre-Presidential Papers, as well as with
Series 6. Correspondence, 1943-1956.
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Subseries 7.1. Personal File.
About 1/2 box.
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject.
Personal files located in the Boston office. Of note are the naval records of John F. Kennedy, two travel journals from 1951, and a few items from his assignment as a special correspondent for Hearst Newspapers in 1945. The two travel journals of Congressman Kennedy are handwritten and consist of his notes on conversations, interview or articles and may not necessarily be the opinions of Kennedy. These journals were kept for Kennedy's own reference during these fact-finding trips; therefore shortcuts in his own style were used, such as writing the first initial of the person being quoted, or writing a few words for later follow-up. Journal 1 covers Kennedy's trip to Europe in January and February of 1951. The countries visited include England, Italy, Yugoslavia, Spain and Germany. Of note are the questions compiled by Kennedy for his meeting with Premier Marshal Josip Tito of Yugoslavia, and Tito's answers, as well as related observations on the meeting. Commentary on the state of the present political, military and social situations in Europe at the time will offer a perspective into Kennedy's early political career as well as the issues effecting Europe in the early 1950's: German rearmament, Russia, inflation in Italy and the long-term consequence of war. Journal 2 covers Kennedy's trip to France, Israel, Iran, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Singapore and Japan in October and November of 1951. Issues of researcher interest include Kennedy's conversations with or about such leaders as David Ben Gurion, Jawaharlal Nehru, Ho Chi Minh, Charles DeGaulle, Dwight Eisenhower and Harry Truman as well as remarks by Kennedy and others on the status and problems facing each country visited. Of note are the comments on the Korean War, the issues facing France and the U.S. in Vietnam and the listing of political assassinations. There are also a few poetry quotes and sayings scattered among the entries. Pages 175-178 are missing from Journal 2. For additional material on John F. Kennedy's navy career, researchers should consult
Series 8. Navy Records, 1941-1964
. Researchers should note souvenirs may also be found in
Series 2. Early Years
;
Subseries 5.2. Souvenirs, 1940-1950
; and
Subseries 6.1. Correspondence, Personal File
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Box 11
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Bank statements, cancelled checks 1940-1941. CLOSED
1951 Travel Journal 1 (3 folders)
1951 Travel Journal 2 (4 folders)
Hearst newspapers, International News Service, 4/25/45 - 7/28/45
Invitations 1942 - 1949 and undated
Navy Records, 10/20/41 - 5/16/52 [3 folders]
Publications, England, 1935-1939 and undated
"Report of debates" in annual report, Cambridge University 1935-1939
Souvenir: 1669 letter
Souvenir: Harry S. Truman autograph, 10/27/48
Speech, book materials originally from New York office, 12/9/37 - 6/15/46 and undated [3 folders]
Speech or book materials 11/10/41 - 1/23/42
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Subseries 7.2. Political Miscellany, 1945-1956.
About 1/2 box.
Arrangement: alphabetical by subject.
Political Miscellany includes material from his 1951 Asian trip, early Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Post material, citations and miscellaneous materials. |
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Box 11
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Asian trip, 1951
Bills, paid 1946 [4 folders]
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Box 11A
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Citation: Council of Latvian Organizations 10/22/55
Citation: Polish American Citizens Club 10/55
Morrissey, Francis X. [personal] 5/54 - 11/55
Periodicals: Items of interest to JFK3 1951-1956
Requests for radio speech 9/11/45
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Post, 12/45 - 4/46 and undated
War Assets Administration, Bill Sutton, 9/11/46 - 11/25/46 and undated |
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Series 8. Navy Records, 1941-1964.
1 box.
Arrangement: alphabetical.
Official documentation of John F. Kennedy's navy career. They are arranged alphabetically by the name given to the records by the U. S. Navy. At the end of the file there is a microfiche copy of the records. The majority of the material is medical reports. There are also appointment records, citations, duty orders, recommendations, requests for assignments, and background investigation files. The Officer Miscellaneous Correspondence and Orders Jacket contains, among other things, correspondence recommending President Kennedy for various posthumous medals. For additional material on John F. Kennedy's navy career, researchers should consult the Navy Records in
Series 7.1. Boston Office: Personal File
. For additional material on John F. Kennedy's medical history, researchers should consult
Series 14. Medical Records
[this series is permission required].
[A folder of John Kennedy's medical files from the office of Dr. William Herbst has been moved to Subseries 14.1. Medical Records. These are files from the private office of Dr. Herbst; they are not navy records. They date from 1961 to 1964. Moved December 2002. This material was previously OPENED May 21, 1991.]
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Box 11A
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Record Group 313
South Pacific Force
Miscellaneous Records, 1942 - 1943
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
Naval Hospital
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Charleston, SC
Chelsea, MA
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Office of Naval Intelligence [
OPENED
December 22, 1993]
Officer Fitness Reports Jacket
Officer Miscellaneous Correspondence and Orders Jacket
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Box 11B
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Officer Selection Board Jacket
Officer Service Record [2 folders]
Request for Records
Microfiche of Records |
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Series 9. Accounts and Bills, 1941-1958.
CLOSED
CLOSED.
14 boxes.
Arrangement: alphabetical by type.
In accordance with the deed of gift restricting materials relating to personal and family business matters, this series is closed to research use.
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Box 12
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Statements: House of Representatives, Sergeant at Arms 1947-1952 CLOSED
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Box 13
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Bills, 1947-1952. CLOSED
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A-Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone [12 folders] CLOSED
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Box 14
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Chestnut Farms-I [15 folders] CLOSED
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Box 15
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J-New England Newsclip Agency [14 folders] CLOSED
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Box 16
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Woodland and Lothrop [19 folders] CLOSED
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