Research Presidential Materials

The materials created by the President are organized differently than the records of executive branch agencies. Presidential materials primarily fall into three categories:

Donated Historical Materials (relating to all presidencies)
Presidential Records (applies to presidencies since Reagan)
Presidential Historical Materials

National Archives Documents Available on Footnote.com

The National Archives and Footnote.com are working as partners to bring unprecedented access to selections of the vast holdings of the National Archives. Learn More.

Visit our Research Rooms and Presidential libraries to access the documents free of charge.

Presidential Collections

For descriptions of specific collections of presidential materials, please refer to the presidential libraries' Finding Aids.

It should be noted that in addition to the presidential materials described here, there are several collections of federal records that relate to the presidency.

Examples of such federal record groups include:

Organizations in the Executive Office of the President (RG 429)
Office of Management and Budget (RG 51)
National Security Council (RG 273)
White House Office (RG 130)

Please refer to the Executive Agency Records Group list for information on additional record groups.

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Presidential Library Finding Aids

The Presidential Libraries are continuously adding on-line finding aid information. Please contact the library directly if you cannot find the materials you are looking for.

Hoover Library
Research Collections
E-mail: hoover.library@nara.gov

Roosevelt Library
Research Center
E-mail: roosevelt.library@nara.gov

Truman Library
Archival Research
E-mail: truman.library@nara.gov

Eisenhower Library
Manuscript Finding Aids
Audiovisual Department
E-mail: eisenhower.library@nara.gov

Kennedy Library
Archives
E-mail: kennedy.library@nara.gov

Johnson Library
Archival Collections
E-mail: johnson.library@nara.gov

Nixon Library
Research Collections
E-mail: nixon@nara.gov

Ford Library
Research Collections
E-mail: ford.library@nara.gov

Carter Library
Manuscript Collections
E-mail: carter.library@nara.gov

Reagan Library
Resources
E-mail: reagan.library@nara.gov

Bush Library
Research at the Library
E-mail: bush.library@nara.gov

To learn more about the Presidential library system and its history, see Learn about the Presidential Libraries.