JFK Library archivists can assist researchers in a number of ways.
On-site researchers: Researchers planning to visit the Library can contact the archivists to make an appointment and get help identifying relevant collections.
Remote researchers: Archivists can answer questions about our holdings if we can address the question in a reasonable amount of time. We are not able to conduct extensive or interpretive research, appraise or authenticate materials from private collections, or evaluate researchers’ work.
We encourage all researchers to contact us at Kennedy.Library@nara.gov to ask about the services we offer, listed below.
With over 400 collections made up of about 24 million pages, JFK Library staff and researchers rely on thorough, accurate citations and credit lines. Noting where an individual document or photograph came from lends legitimacy to any research project, and can help archivists and researchers put the item in context and find additional helpful materials.
Collections, folders, and individual items can be closed to research for several reasons. Researchers have various options for requesting the review and potential opening of closed materials, depending on the reason for the closure.
The Library accepts donations of unique, original primary-source materials that fall within our collection development guidelines. Click here for additional information on our policies for evaluating and accepting donated materials into our holdings.
The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation offers competitive research fellowships and grants every year to scholars and students who wish to make use of the archival holdings (including audiovisual materials) of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.