Presidential Documents

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Presidential Papers

Prior to 1978, materials created by the President, and his staff, during the course of his duties (correspondence, memos, telephone logs, etc.) were considered his personal property. These materials may be in the Library of Congress, historical societies, academic archives, or in one of 10 presidential libraries. The Presidential Records Act of 1978 recognized Presidential records that "document the constitutional, statutory, and ceremonial duties of the President" as property of the United States Government. The materials are given to the Archivist of the United States when a president leaves office. The papers of Richard Nixon are governed by the Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act of 1974 and administered by the Nixon Presidential Materials Staff at the National Archives at College Park, MD.

For a listing of papers held outside of SDSU see:
Records of the Presidency: Presidential Papers and Libraries from Washington to Reagan. Frank L. Schick. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx, 1989.
Location: CD3029.82 .S5 1989 Ref

George Washington (1st, 1789-1797)

George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799.: "The online version of the George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress offers access to the complete collection from the Library's Manuscript Division. This consists of approximately 65,000 items (176,000 pages). Correspondence, letterbooks, commonplace books, diaries and journals, reports, notes, financial account books, and military papers accumulated by George Washington from 1741 through 1799 are organized into 8 Series, which will be published successively."--from the Web site

George Washington Papers. 124 reels.
Location: Pr 1.2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 1.2/Index Ref/US: The Washington Papers are comprised of 64,786 manuscripts housed in the Library of Congress. This set does not include papers housed in other institutions. (Detailed description)

The Papers of George Washington. Presidential series. 9 vols.
Location: E312.72 1987b 3rd Floor Books

Additional George Washington papers held by SDSU Library.

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John Adams (2nd, 1797-1801)

Papers of John Adams. 6 vols.
Location: E302 .A275 1977 3rd Floor Books

Microfilms of the Adams Papers Owned by the Adams Manuscript Trust and Deposited in the Massachusetts Historical Society.
Location: F-2559 Microforms Center
Location: F-2559 Guide pt. 1-4 Microforms Indexes

Additional John Adams papers held by SDSU Library.

Thomas Jefferson (3rd, 1801-1809)

The Thomas Jefferson Papers at the Library of Congress.: "The complete Thomas Jefferson Papers from the Manuscript Division at the Library of Congress consists of approximately 27,000 documents. This is the largest collection of original Jefferson documents in the world. Document types in the collection as a whole include correspondence, commonplace books, financial account books, and manuscript volumes. The collection is organized into nine series or groupings, ranging in date from 1606 to 1827." from the Web site

Thomas Jefferson Papers. 65 reels.
Location: Pr 3.2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 3.2/Index Ref/US: This microfilm set contains the Jefferson Papers housed in the Library of Congress; a "small but historically important group of manuscripts." Most of Jefferson's papers are located at other institutions. The accompanying index indicates where additional papers may be located. (Detailed description)

Additional Thomas Jefferson papers held by SDSU Library.

James Madison (4th, 1809-1817)

The James Madison Papers at the Library of Congress.: "The James Madison Papers from the Manuscript Division at the Library of Congress consist of approximately 12,000 items captured in some 72,000 digital images. They document the life of the man who came to be known as the "Father of the Constitution" through correspondence, personal notes, drafts of letters and legislation, an autobiography, legal and financial documents, and miscellaneous manuscripts. The collection is organized into six series dating from 1723 to 1836." from the Web site

James Madison Papers. 28 reels.
Location: Pr 4.2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 4.2/Index Ref/US: This set includes the holdings of the Library of Congress. The accompanying index indicates where additional papers may be located. (Detailed description)

Additional James Madison papers held by SDSU Library.

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James Monroe (5th, 1817-1825)

James Monroe Papers. 11 reels.
Location: Pr 5.2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 5.2/Index Ref/US: This set includes the 3,821 manuscripts housed in the Library of Congress. The accompanying index indicates where additional papers may be located. (Detailed description)

Additional James Monroe papers held by SDSU Library.

John Quincy Adams (6th, 1825-1829)

Additional John Quincy Adams papers held by SDSU Library.

Andrew Jackson (7th, 1829-1837)

Andrew Jackson Papers. 78 reels.
Location: Pr 7.2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 7.2/Index Ref/US: This set includes the Jackson Papers housed in the Library of Congress. The accompanying index indicates where additional papers may be located. (Detailed description)

Additional Andrew Jackson papers held by SDSU Library.

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Martin Van Buren (8th, 1837-1841)

Martin Van Buren Papers. 35 reels.
Location: Pr 8.2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 8.2/Index Ref/US: Van Buren's papers housed in the Library of Congress include state papers, correspondence, and notes to himself. The Calendar of the Papers of Martin Van Buren that compliments this collection, provides a chronology and description of the documents. A subject index is also included. (Detailed description)

Additional Martin Van Buren papers held by SDSU Library.

William Henry Harrison (9th, 1841)

William H. Harrison Papers. 3 reels.
Location: Pr 9.2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 9.2/Index Ref/US: This set includes the Harrison Papers housed in the Library of Congress. The accompanying index indicates where additional papers may be located. (Detailed description)

Additional William H. Harrison papers held by SDSU Library.

John Tyler (10th, 1841-1845)

John Tyler Papers. 3 reels.
Location: Pr 10.2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 10.2/Index Ref/US: This set includes the 1,410 manuscripts in the Library of Congress. The accompanying index indicates where additional papers may be located. (Detailed description)

Additional John Tyler papers held by SDSU Library.

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James K. Polk (11th, 1845-1849)

James K. Polk Papers. 67 reels.
Location: Pr 11.2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 11.2/Index Ref/US: The Polk Papers are one of the most complete collections in the Library of Congress. The accompanying index indicates where additional papers may be located. (Detailed description)

Additional James K. Polk papers held by SDSU Library.

Zachary Taylor (12th, 1849-1850)

Zachary Taylor Papers. 2 reels.
Location: Pr 12.2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 12.2/Index Ref/US: There are only 631 manuscripts in the Taylor Papers housed in the Library of Congress. Most of his papers were destroyed during the Civil War. The accompanying index indicates where additional papers may be located. (Detailed description)

Additional Zachary Taylor papers held by SDSU Library.

Millard Fillmore (13th, 1850-1853)

The SDSU Library does own presidential papers for Millard Fillmore. Personal papers held by SDSU Library.

Franklin Pierce (14th, 1853-1857)

Franklin Pierce Papers. 7 reels.
Location: Pr 14.2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 14.2/Index Ref/US: The set includes the Pierce Papers at the Library of Congress. The accompanying index indicates where additional papers may be located. (Detailed description)

No other SDSU holdings.

James Buchanan (15th, 1857-1861)

The Works of James Buchanan, Comprising His Speeches, State Papers, and Private Correspondence. 12 vols.
Location: E337.8 B9 1960 3rd Floor Books

Additional James Buchanan papers held by SDSU Library.

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Abraham Lincoln (16th, 1861-1865)

Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress.: "The online version of the Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress offers access to the complete collection from the Library's Manuscript Division. This consists of approximately 20,000 items (61,000 pages) organized into three General Correspondence Series in the Lincoln Papers itself, and an additional three hundred Lincoln letters in other collections in the Manuscript Division. Most of the items are from the 1850s through Lincoln's presidential years, 1860-65."--from the Web site

Abraham Lincoln Papers. 97 reels.
Location: Pr 16.2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 16.2/Index Ref/US: This set includes the Lincoln Papers held by the Library of Congress. The accompanying index indicates where additional papers may be located. (Detailed description)

Additional Abraham Lincoln papers held by SDSU Library .

Andrew Johnson (17th, 1865-1869)

Andrew Johnson Papers. 55 reels.
Location: Pr 17.2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 17.2/Index Ref/US: The Library of Congress Andrew Johnson Papers contain approximately 40,000 items. The accompanying index indicates where additional papers may be located. (Detailed description)

Additional Andrew Johnson papers held by SDSU Library.

Ulysses S. Grant (18th, 1869-1877)

Ulysses S. Grant Papers. 32 reels.
Location: Pr 18.2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 18.2/Index Ref/US: This set includes the Grant Papers The accompanying index indicates where additional papers may be located. (Detailed description)

Additional Ulysses S. Grant papers held by SDSU Library.

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Rutherford B. Hayes (19th, 1877-1881)

The SDSU Library does not own presidential papers. Personal papers held by SDSU Library.

James A. Garfield (20th, 1881)

The SDSU Library does not own presidential papers. Additional personal papers held by SDSU Library.

Chester A. Arthur (21st, 1881-1885)

Chester A. Arthur Papers. 3 reels.
Location: Pr 21.2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 21.2/Index Ref/US: Most of Arthur's personal papers were burned at his direction the day before he died. The accompanying index indicates where additional papers may be located. (Detailed description)

No other SDSU holdings.

Grover Cleveland (22nd, 1885-1889 & 24th, 1893-1897)

Grover Cleveland Papers. 164 reels.
Location: Pr 22.2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 22.2/Index Ref/US: This set includes the Grover Cleveland Papers held by the Library of Congress. The accompanying index indicates where additional papers may be located. (Detailed description)

Additional Grover Cleveland papers held by SDSU Library .

Benjamin Harrison (23rd, 1889-1893)

Benjamin Harrison Papers. 151 reels
Location: Pr 23.2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 23.2/Index Ref/US: This set includes the 60,000+ items in the Harrison Papers held by the Library of Congress. The accompanying index indicates where additional papers may be located. (Detailed description)

Additional Benjamin Harrison papers held by SDSU Library.

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William McKinley (25th, 1897-1901)

William McKinley Papers. 98 reels.
Location: Pr 25.2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 25.2/Index Ref/US: The McKinley Papers are comprised of over 131,000 items. The accompanying index indicates where additional papers may be located. (Detailed description)

Additional William McKinley papers held by SDSU Library.

Theodore Roosevelt (26th, 1901-1909)

Presidential Addresses and State Papers of Theodore Roosevelt. 4 vols.
Location: E660 .R77 Compact Shelf/B

Additional Theodore Roosevelt papers held by SDSU Library.

William Howard Taft (27th, 1909-1913)

The SDSU Library does not own presidential papers for President Taft. Personal papers held by SDSU Library.

Woodrow Wilson (28th, 1913-1921)

The Public Papers of Woodrow Wilson. 3 vols.
Location: E660 .W72 3rd Floor Books

Press Conferences of Woodrow Wilson; March 22, 1913 - July 10, 1919. 1 reel. Location: Pr 28.3/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US: Wilson was the first president to hold press conferences and this collection contains all known transcripts. The transcripts were filmed from the files in the Wilson Collection held at the Firestone Library of Princeton University and are arranged in chronological order.

Additional Woodrow Wilson papers held by SDSU Library.

Warren G. Harding (29th, 1921-1923)

Speeches and Addresses of Warren G. Harding, President of the United States, Delivered
During the Course of His Tour from Washington, D.C., to Alaska and Return to San Francisco,
June 20 to August 2, 1923. Reported and compiled by James W. Murphy, official reporter, U.S.
Senate
Location: E785 .H3 3rd Floor Books

No other SDSU holdings.

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Calvin Coolidge (30th, 1923-1929)

Press Conferences of Calvin Coolidge; v. 1-11; August 21, 1923 - March 1, 1929. 2 reels.
Location: Pr 30.3/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US: The transcripts reproduced in this set were filmed from the holdings of the Calvin Coolidge Memorial Room in the Forbes Library, Northampton, Massachusetts. They are arranged in chronological order.

Additional Calvin Coolidge papers held by SDSU Library.

Herbert Hoover (31st, 1929-1933)

Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Herbert Hoover. 4 vols.
Location: AE 2.114:1929-1933 Gov Pubs/US

Press Conferences of Herbert Hoover; March 5, 1929 - March 3, 1933. 1 reel
Location: Pr 31.3/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US: The transcripts in this collection were filmed from the presidential papers in the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and are arranged in chronological order.

Additional Herbert Hoover papers held by SDSU Library.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd, 1933-1945)

The Public Papers and Addresses of Franklin D. Roosevelt. 5 vols..
Location: E806 .R749 3rd Floor Books

Press Conferences of Franklin D. Roosevelt; v. 1-22, 1933-1943. 12 reels.
Location: Pr 32.3/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US: The stenographic transcripts of 1,011 press conferences are reproduced in this collection and were filmed from the holdings of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library. A subject index begins each reel of film.

Additional Franklin D. Roosevelt papers held by SDSU Library.

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Harry S. Truman (33rd, 1945-1953)

Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Harry S. Truman. 7 vols.
Location: AE 2.114:1945-1953 Ref/US

Map Room Messages of President Truman (1945-1946). 5 reels.
Location: Pr 33.2:M 29/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 33.2:M 29/Guide Ref/US: The documents in this set were filmed from selected holdings of the Harry S. Truman Library. They contain key files from the White House Map Room, central clearinghouse for classified correspondence. It includes letters written to and by Prime Minister Attlee (Great Britain), Chiang Kai-shek, Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin and others.

Press Conferences of Harry S. Truman; April 17, 1945 - January 15, 1953. 4 reels.
Location: Pr 33.3/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US: Reproduced in this collection are 324 press conference transcripts held by President Truman housed in the Harry S. Truman Library. The first reel of the set has a subject index to the transcripts.

Additional Harry S. Truman papers held by SDSU Library.

Dwight D. Eisenhower (34th, 1953-1961)

Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower. 8 vols.
Location: AE 2.114:1945-1953 Ref/US

Minutes and Documents of the Cabinet Meetings of President Eisenhower (1953-1961). 10 reels.
Location: S 1.2:D 88/2/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: S 1.2:D 88/Guide Ref/US: This collection contains a wide variety of materials from Eisenhower's administration. Included are department reports, cabinet meeting minutes, correspondence, memoranda, discussion papers, background papers and more. The index is combined with Minutes of Telephone Conversations of John Foster Dulles and of Christian Herter.

Additional Dwight D. Eisenhower papers held by SDSU Library.

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John F. Kennedy (35th, 1961-1963)

Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, John F. Kennedy. 3 vols.
Location: AE 2.114:1961-1963 Ref/US

President John F. Kennedy's Office Files,1961-1963. Part 4: Subjects File. 14 reels.
Location: Pr 35.2:Of 31/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US: This file consists of a diversity of documents related to nongovernmental organizations and other topics. Included are files regarding civil rights, polls, foreign travel, NATO, the UN and more.

President Kennedy and the Press (1961-1963). 20 reels.
Location: Pr 35.3/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 35.3/Guide Ref/US: The documents in this collection were filmed from selected holdings of the John F. Kennedy Library. They include daily briefings of the White House press corps, White House news releases, transcripts of presidential press conferences, and briefing papers.

Additional John F. Kennedy papers held by SDSU Library.

Lyndon B. Johnson (36th, 1963-1969)

Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson. 10 vols.
Location: AE 2.114:1973-1969 Ref/US

Daily Diary of President Johnson (1963-1969). 14 reels.
Location: Pr 36.2:D 35/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 36.2:D 35/Guide Ref/US: Filmed from the holdings of the Lyndon B. Johnson Library, this set contains the President's "Daily Diary." The "Diary" is a minute-by-minute account of the President's day kept by his secretaries and aides. It includes times, places, participants, and topics of all meetings, summaries of telephone conversations, and analyses of important people and issues.

Minutes and Documents of the Cabinet Meetings of President Johnson (1963-1969). 17 reels.
Location: Pr 36.2:M 66/Film Gov Pubs Micro/US
Location: Pr 36.2:M 66/Guide Ref/US: This set contains cabinet meeting minutes, official cabinet reports, memoranda to the President, information passed to the cabinet by the President, and special briefings by the Departments of State and Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the CIA, and others.

Additional Lyndon B. Johnson papers held by SDSU Library.

Return to Top of Document | Presidential Papers

Richard M. Nixon (37th, 1969-1974)

Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Richard Nixon. 6 vols.
Location: AE 2.114: Ref/US

Additional Richard M. Nixon papers held by SDSU Library.

Gerald R. Ford (38th, 1974-1977)

Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Gerald R. Ford. 6 vols.
Location: AE 2.114:1974-1977 Ref/US

Additional Gerald R. Ford papers held by SDSU Library.

Jimmy Carter [James Carter, Jr.] (39th, 1977-1981)

Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Jimmy Carter. 9 vols.
Location: AE 2.114:1977-1981 Ref/US

Additional Jimmy Carter papers held by SDSU Library.

Ronald Reagan (40th, 1981-1989)

President Ronald Reagan. Some volumes beginning 1981. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Ronald Reagan. 15 vols.
Location: AE 2.114:1981-1989 Ref/US

Additional Ronald Reagan papers held by SDSU Library.

George Bush (41st, 1989-1993)

President George Bush. 1989-1993. George Bush Presidential Library.
Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, George Bush. 8 vols.
Location: AE 2.114:1989-1993 Ref/US

Additional George Bush papers held by SDSU Library.

William J. Clinton (42nd, 1993-2001)

Public Papers of the Presidents. 1993-ongoing.
Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, William J. Clinton. 4 vols.
Location: AE 2.114:1993-2001 Ref/US

Additional William J. Clinton papers held by SDSU Library.

George W. Bush (43rd, 2001- )

Use the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents and Whitehouse Web Site.

Additional George W. Bush papers in SDSU Library.

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Presidential Libraries

Presidential Libraries. National Archives & Records Administration.: Description of the Presidential Library System and directory of the 10 existing libraries.

Other Resources

POTUS: Presidents of the United States. Internet Public Library.: Links to biographical information, including Cabinet members, election results and historical documents.