The links below lead you to materials and resources organized by topic areas. Some topics include only primary source materials; others include essays, chronologies, activities, and bibliographies.
The Life of John F. Kennedy
Click here for a brief biography of John F. Kennedy.
Selected Speeches of John F. Kennedy
Picture Gallery
Follow this link for photographs of John F. Kennedy and his family.
Explore a Timeline and White House Diary which provide chronologies of the Kennedy years. Also, visit the Reference Desk for a wealth of information on John F. Kennedy and the political and social climate of the 1960s.
Integrating Ole Miss
This interactive website tells the story of James Meredith, the first African American to be admitted to the University of Mississippi, and the tumultuous events following this historic event. Witness the events firsthand through the actual letters, recorded telephone conversations, and images of those who made history.
Leaders in the Struggle for Civil Rights
These letters and telegrams from key figures help tell the story of the civil rights movement during the Kennedy years. Documents included are from James Farmer, Martin Luther King, Jr., John Lewis, A. Philip Randolph, Bayard Rustin, Roy Wilkins, and Whitney Young.
Investigate the rich historical evidence in this online exhibit to analyze the events, decisions, and outcomes of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Americans in Space
This link leads you to speeches and remarks by the President, memoranda and correspondence, photographs, an oral history interview of John Glenn, and an activity to guide your exploration of these documentary materials.
Press Conferences: Briefings and Transcripts
Click here to learn more about the role of President Kennedy's Press Secretary, Pierre Salinger, and compare some of Salinger's briefings of the President with specific press conference transcripts.
Click here to explore White House transcripts of all press conferences given by the President between the years 1961-1963; the August 20, 1963 press conference includes a sound recording.
Vietnam and the Presidency
Read transcripts from an historic two-day conference held at the Kennedy Library on March 10-11, 2006, examining the history of the Vietnam War and the Presidency. Participants included General Alexander Haig, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Special Counsel to President Kennedy Theodore Sorensen, and Special Assistant to President Johnson Jack Valenti.
Historical Literature for Elementary and Middle GradesThese bibliographies describe excellent books about American history for elementary and middle school students. Includes guidelines for selecting high quality books and other resources to learn about American history through literature.
In Their Own Words
Learn the stories of important people in the Kennedy era through their own words. Click here to find out about upcoming public affairs forums at the Kennedy Library covering a diverse range of political, cultural, and artistic topics reflecting the legacy of President and Mrs. Kennedy. Then visit our "Past Forums" page to read transcripts from some of our past programs.