The White House Central Files were designed to serve as a reference service for the President and his staff and to document White House activities. The White House Central Subject File is the principal White House file. The White House Name File contains copies of most incoming correspondence arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent and is cross-referenced to the Subject File. The Chronological File contains copies of documents prepared for the President's signature and is also cross-referenced to the Subject File.
The four major divisions of this subcollection are:
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White House Central Subject File
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The primary file kept by the staff of the White House central file room containing papers sent from various offices in the White House. The file is organized according to an alphanumeric system divided into 62 subject categories, with numerous cross-references. 440 feet.
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White House Central Name File.
The name file serves as an index to the Subject File by personal or organizational name. It contains a copy of the first page of incoming and outgoing White House correspondence marked to indicate where the main file is located in the Subject File. The originals of incoming correspondence not referred or not answered are also filed here. 1,247 feet.
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Chronological File.
Copies of that part of President Kennedy's outgoing correspondence which was filed in the White House Central Files. 8 feet.
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Security Classified File.
National security classified material withdrawn from the Subject File by the staff of the White House Central File room. 30 feet.
Closed.
[Much material in this subfile is duplicated in the National Security Files and President's Office Files listed above].
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Oversize Materials.
Reports, printed materials, attachments to correspondence, and other oversize items from the Subject File. Includes department reports, extra copies of department and agency memos, petitions in support of the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, petitions protesting treatment of protestors in Alabama, school work celebrating the space flight of John Glenn, birthday greetings to the President from first graders, art work from talented citizens, clippings sent with comments protesting a phone link between Moscow and Washington, class photographs, books considered of interest by the sender, newspapers showing a particular town's suffering due to floods, college year books, school magazines, business annual reports, offers of holiday accommodation, toys for Caroline and John Jr., poems, songs, valentines, tape recordings, television transcripts, the script for the film P.T. 109, drafts of books requesting Presidential approval, inspirational books and pamphlets, offers of prayers and spiritual bouquets from nuns and schoolchildren. 116 feet.
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