Janet G. Travell (#8.26)

Administrative Information
Biographical Note
Collection Overview
Collection Description


Administrative Information

Abstract
White House Staff Files 1959-1964
Physician to John F. Kennedy (1955-63); White House physician (1961-63). Correspondence with the public on
various health-related matters.

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 donors of the John F. Kennedy papers have assigned their copyright in these materials to the United States. Documents in the Kennedy papers prepared by officials or employees of the United States government as part of their official duties are in the public domain. Under the provisions of the United States Copyright Law, copyright in any writing created before January 1, 1978, and not in the public domain rests with the author and his heirs for the period of the life of the author plus 50 years or for 100 years from the date the item was created if the author's date of death is unknown. Users of these materials are advised to determine the copyright status of any document from which they plan to publish.

Provenance
Staff files of Janet G. Travell, physician to President Kennedy, were donated to the John F. Kennedy Library in 1965 as part of the papers of John F. Kennedy.

Extent
7,650 pages (3 linear feet, 11 linear inches ; 4.5 cubic feet).

Withdrawn Items
Number of items closed: 120.
Documents which, if published, would result in unwarranted invasion of personal privacy have been removed and placed under seal. Document withdrawal sheets have been inserted in the file where items have been removed. The Library will review this closed material upon request for the purpose of opening items which no longer require restriction.

Date Opened
1981

Processed by
Joan L. O'Connor

Encoded by
James M. Roth

Related Collections
Oral History Interview, Janet G. Travell
Oral History Interview, Rear Admiral George G. Burkley (MC) USN

The White House Files of Janet G. Travell

Biographical Note

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 Files of Janet G. Travell cover the period of July 1959 to January 1964.  The material is arranged in one series entitled Correspondence, 1959 - 1964, and is comprised of Dr. Travell's correspondence with the general public, the White House staff and President Kennedy.  Generally, the order of the material remains as received.

Collection Description

Correspondence, 1959 - 1964.
About 3000 items.
Arrangement: alphabetical and chronological.

Correspondence with Kennedy and the White House staff, including a 1959 statement providing Senator Kennedy with documentation to answer health related inquiries during his presidential campaign. Correspondence with the general public on health related matters, both offering and requesting health advice. This correspondence takes the form of letters, telegrams, newsclippings, greeting cards and health product brochures. Material discussing the health of President Kennedy is arranged chronologically; remaining material is arranged alphabetically. More than three boxes are requests for information about President Kennedy's rocking chair.