Sanford Fox (#8.8)

A Register of His White House Files, 1961-1964
In the John F. Kennedy Library
National Archives and Records Administration

Administrative Information
Biographical Note
Collection Overview
List of Series
Series Description


Administrative Information

Abstract
White House Staff Files 1961-1963
The Presidential Papers of John F. Kennedy
Chief, White House Social Entertainments Office (1961-1964). Guest lists, memorandums, invitations, programs, and seating plans for White House social events.

Access
Open. 

Usage Restrictions
According to the letter of transfer 1965, copyright of these materials has been assigned to the United States.  Documents in this collection that were prepared by officials of the United States as part of their official duties are in the public domain. Users of these materials are advised to determine the copyright status of any document from which they wish to publish.

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 The copyright law extends its protection to unpublished works from the moment of creation in a tangible form.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
These files of Sanford Fox, Chief, White House Social Entertainments Office (1961-1964), were donated to the Kennedy Library in 1965 as part of the papers of John F. Kennedy.

Extent
About 24,000 pages (20 linear feet, 6 linear inches ; 17.5 cubic feet)

Withdrawn Items
Two (2) documents have been removed.
Selected folders contain withdrawal sheets where documents containing national security classified information were removed from this collection.  Selected folders contain withdrawal sheets where documents, in accordance with the donor’s deed of gift, were removed from the collection. These include documents that may be used to injure or harass any living person.  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
1981

Processed by
Barbara L. Anderson

Encoded by
Ronald E. Whealan

Revisions
Electronic version of the finding aid prepared December 2001, by Ronald E. Whealan
Electronic version of the finding aid updated November 2005, by James M. Roth

Related Collections
Sanford Fox Oral History Interview, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library
White House Social Files, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library
  

White House Staff Files of Sanford Fox (1919-1996)

Biographical Note
A West Virginia native, Fox settled in the Washington area in 1939. He entered the Army's Air Transport Command in 1940, serving with the Army Air Forces and the Navy during World War II.  As Chief of the Social Entertainments office for the White House during the Kennedy administration, Fox was in charge of one of the four departments under Mrs. Kennedy's Social Secretary -- first Letitia Baldridge and later Nancy Tuckerman. Fox was responsible for the Calligraphy-Protocol-Social Records department. The other departments and their department heads were: Press, headed by Pam Turnure; Correspondence Pool, Hortense Burton; and Social Files, Stan Clark. Also involved in the preparations were the Usher's Office, the Maitre d'Hotel and the Printing Office. Sanford L. Fox died December 29, 1996.
  

Collection Overview
The Presidential papers of John F. Kennedy consist of several major bodies of research material. 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 Social File contains the records of the White House Social Office and includes the correspondence of the First Lady. The President's Office File contains the papers maintained by the President's personal secretary for his use. The National Security File contains the records of the staff of the special assistant to the President for national security affairs.

In addition, in what were called in the White House "storage" or "overflow" files are found various miscellaneous materials and the records of the offices of most members of the President's staff. The files described in this finding aid constitute one of the series of White House staff files included in the Presidential papers of John F. Kennedy.

The White House Staff File of  Sanford Fox covers the period of January 1961 to January 1964.  The file consists mainly of guest lists, menus, invitations, programs, seating plans, and replies of acceptance or regret from invited guests. Also included in the file are staff memos suggesting possible guests and files on cancelled events and on President Kennedy's funeral. There is a name index at the beginning of the file indicating events individuals have attended.

The Kennedy Library has an oral history interview with Fox in which he discusses his role in the White House.

Researchers may wish to consult books on entertaining in the White House written by White House staff members: The Kennedy White House Parties by Anne H. Lincoln and Of Diamonds and Diplomats by Letitia Baldridge.
  

List of Series
Series 1. Guest Index
Series 2. Social Events, 1961-1964
  

Series Description

Series 1. Guest Index.
Arrangement: alphabetical by name.

Card index containing names, addresses and occupations of White House guests along with dates of events attended and types of events. The cards list local addresses and native country for foreign guests. Categories of entertainment include: breakfast, luncheon, tea, dinner, reception, house guest or musical. The cards are arranged alphabetically by name of guest and by country for foreign guests. Group tours are included in the guest index as well.
  

Series 2. Social Events, 1961-1964.
Arrangement: chronological by date of event.

This series contains materials used in planning the social events. Each event has its own folder containing guest lists showing whether a guest has accepted or regretted, menus, programs, invitations and their drafts, replies of guests and press releases. There is also a file on arrangements for President Kennedy's funeral which includes a guest list. Hand-printed seating plans for many of the social events are filed at the end of the series. If a folder has an asterik "*" there is an oversize seating plan in box 29.  If a folder has a double asterik "**" there is an oversize seating plan in box 30.