News Notes for Ford Library Researchers - 2015

Upcoming Deadlines

September 15, 2015

Deadline for the Gerald R. Ford Foundation Research Travel Grants. For more information about the grants contact Jeremy Schmidt.

March 31, 2016

Deadline for the "Gerald R. Ford Scholar Award (Dissertation Award) in Honor of Robert Teeter". For more information about the award please contact Elizabeth Druga.


December 16, 2015 - Holiday Hours (Corrected)
The Ford Library research room will close at 12 pm on December 24th and 3 pm on December 31st. The lobby exhibit area will remain open until 4:45 pm on those days. The Library will be closed on December 25th and January 1st.

December 16, 2015 - Holiday Hours (Updated)
The Ford Library research room will close at 12 pm on December 24th and 1 pm on December 31st. The lobby exhibit area will remain open until 4:45 pm on those days. The Library will be closed on December 25th and January 1st.

November 11, 2015 - Holiday Hours
The Ford Library research room will close at 3 pm on November 25th, and 1 pm on December 24th and 31st. The lobby exhibit area will remain open until 4:45 pm on those days. The Library will be closed on November 26th, December 25th, and January 1st.

November 4, 2015
The Library opened for research accretions to the White House Usher's Office Files, 1974-77. This accretion includes materials pertaining to events, swimming pool construction, Christmas preparations, budgets and expenditures, and construction of a warehouse for storage of furnishings. Also included in the collection is material related to the production of a film on the history of the White House. [0.9 linear feet (ca. 1,200 pages)]. View the collection's finding aid.

October 27, 2015
The Library has posted a list of documents declassified in whole or in part through the Mandatory Declassification Review process during the months of January to June 2015 and July to September 2015. You can also see lists of documents declassified in earlier quarters. Researchers may contact us for additional information about the newly opened documents or to order copies.

October 26, 2015
The Library opened for research the John W. Barnum Papers, 1971-78 (1979-99). This collection contains extensive materials related to domestic and international transportation issues, on such topics as railroad reorganization conducted through the United States Railway Association, National Passenger Railroad Corporation (Amtrak) and Consolidated Railroad Corporation (Conrail) structuring, the Northeast Rail Crisis, highway legislation, no-fault vehicle insurance, Trans-Alaska Pipeline, Civil Aeronautics Board investigations, international air travel agreements, and Law of the Sea negotiations [91.4 linear feet (ca. 166,400 pages)]. View the collection's finding aid.

The Library opened for research accretions to the Arthur F. Burns Papers, (1957) 1969-87 (1988-90). This material relates to both Burns’ service as Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and U.S. Ambassador to West Germany, and includes new series: Certificates, and Scrapbooks, and additions to existing series: Presidential and Special Correspondence, and Newspaper Clippings [5.6 linear feet (11,000 pages)]. View the collection's finding aid.

The Library opened for research the Byron M. Cavaney Papers, (1972) 1974-76. This collection contains materials concerning the operation of the White House Advance Office and its logistical planning for foreign and domestic Presidential trips [19.9 linear feet (ca. 43,700 pages)] View the collection's finding aid..

The Library processed the Jane Dannenhauer Files, (1950, 1952) 1974-77. Due to extensive personal information this collection is closed to research. This collection consists of investigative case files on individuals considered for appointments to White House staff positions or Presidential appointments, requests for White House or Executive Office Building (EOB) passes, lists of personnel changes, name checks on individuals and groups invited to White House social functions, and similar materials. Included in the collection is the background investigation report on Nelson Rockefeller, nominee for Vice President [96.2 linear feet (ca. 192,400 pages)].

The Library opened for research the Michael J. Farrell Files, (1969-73) 1974-77. This collection contains materials documenting White House tour operations and visitor-related special events [23.7 linear feet (51,000 pages)]. View the collection's finding aid.

The Library opened for research select series from the Gerald and Betty Ford Special Materials Collection, (1841, 1851) 1941-2007. This collection consists of letters, photographs, and books that were set apart by Gerald Ford, Betty Ford or their staff and deemed to have special value. The materials were given to the Fords by world leaders, other presidents, politicians, celebrities, prominent individuals, and personal friends [19 linear feet (ca. 38,000 pages)]. The collection's finding aid will be posted online once the entire collection is completely processed. For information about this collection contact the Library.

The Library opened for research the Philomena S. Jurey Papers, 1961-89. This collection contains materials concerning Jurey’s work covering the White House for Voice of America (VOA). The collection contains materials related to many of the key moments of the Ford, Carter and Reagan administrations, including the détente summits of the 1970s and the Reagan-Gorbachev meetings of the mid-1980s [11.3 linear feet (ca. 20,800 pages)]. View the collection's finding aid.

The Library opened for research the James T. Lynn Papers, (1971-73) 1974-77. This collection contains extensive material related to the Office of Management and Budget’s activities associated with the formulation of the President’s budget, the national economy in general, especially inflation, and Federal housing programs [36 linear feet (ca. 64,000 pages)]. View the collection's finding aid.

The Library opened the Chronological File series (boxes 78-84 only) from the NSA. NSC Staff for the Middle East and South Asia Files, 1974-77 [3.1 linear feet, ca. 5,600 pages)]. This collection is now fully processed. The collection contains substantive materials on foreign policy and defense issues for thirty countries ranging geographically from Morocco to Saudi Arabia to India. The materials provide information about such topics as military and economic assistance, regional alliances, territorial disputes, Soviet interests and activities, the Middle East peace negotiations, the Arab economic boycott of companies trading with Israel, US security interests in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, the Palestine Liberation Organization, the United Nations, atomic energy, oil, terrorism, and human rights. View the collection's finding aid.

The Library opened for research the NSA. NSC Planning and Coordination Staff Files, 1972-75. A small series concerns contingency planning for possible developments in several countries (especially Chile, Peru, Portugal, and Spain). A larger series concerns federal funding for Security Assistance during Fiscal Year 1974, primarily budget planning, budget decisions, and legislation (authorizations and appropriations). All documents in the latter series date from the Nixon administration [1.9 linear feet (ca. 4,000 pages)]. View the collection's finding aid.

The Library opened for research the Terrence O’Donnell Files, 1974-77. This collection consists primarily of the President’s schedules, domestic and foreign trip itineraries, and Presidential briefing books, which include background information, talking points, and biographical sketches. There are also materials relating to the 1976 presidential campaign, including Republican Party and President Ford Committee contacts, analysis of Carter campaign strategy for the states visited by President Ford, and analysis of the issues that affected those states. Additional materials pertain to usage of the presidential boxes in the Kennedy Center by members of the White House staff and their guests, trips and events associated with the nation’s bicentennial, and campaign trips associated with the 1974 congressional elections [14.4 linear feet (ca. 25,900 pages)]. View the collection's finding aid.

The Library opened for research the Frederick T. Steeper Papers, 1983-2006. This collection contains materials concerning Frederick T. Steeper’s work as a Michigan-based political analyst and career in survey research and analysis for Republican Presidential, senatorial, and gubernatorial candidates and campaign organizations. The collection contains materials related to Steeper’s work for the Republican National Committee, George H.W. Bush’s 1992 and 1996 Presidential campaigns, George W. Bush’s 2000 and 2004 Presidential campaigns, and various state campaigns [41 linear feet (ca. 75,000 pages)]. View the collection's finding aid.

The Library opened for research these series from the White House Central Files. Bulk Mail File: Nixon Pardon / Amnesty File; Nixon Pardon Children’s Letters File; Busing File; Abortion File Federal Trade Commission File; Rockefeller Nomination File; Nixon Pardon – Pro (Acknowledged) File [70.5 linear feet (ca. 105,000 pages)]. View the collection's finding aid.

June 24, 2015
Congratulations to Charles Halvorson, recipient of the 2015 Gerald R. Ford Scholar Award in Honor of Robert M. Teeter, and the Spring 2015 Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation Research Travel Grant recipients.

The Library opened for research accretions to the H. Guyford Stever Papers, (1930) 1936-93. The bulk of the accretion covers the period 1989-1993, and primarily documents his recent consulting activities. There is some material from his White House period. [28 linear feet (ca. 58,000 pages)]. The files from the accretion are available as review on request. Researchers may contact the Library to request that particular folders be added to the review-for-access queue. View the collection's finding aid.

The Library opened for research the Robin B. Martin Papers, (1969, 1973) 1974-76. This collection contains material documenting foreign and domestic travel planning for the Vice-President, President, and First Lady [3.9 linear feet (ca. 7,200 pages)]. View the collection's finding aid.

June 10, 2015
The Library opened for research the Edward C. Schmults Papers, 1973-77 (1978-81). This collection contains materials related to legal determinations and advice given within the Treasury Department and White House on such topics as Watergate, General Revenue Sharing Program, Emergency Loan Guarantee Program, railway improvement, regulatory reform, constitutional or statutory powers of the President, conflict of interest rules, standards of conduct, political restrictions, and a variety of domestic and foreign policy issues involving legal questions. [14.5 linear feet (ca. 26,000 pages)]. View the collection's finding aid.

April 1, 2015
The Library opened for research the following series from the NSA. NSC Staff for the Middle East and South Asia Files: Peace Negotiations Chronological File and Chronological File (boxes 56-77 only) [14.4 linear feet (ca. 26,400 pages)]. A finding aid will be published after the entire collection has been opened.

The Library processed the Presidential Personnel Office Files, 1974-77. These are the working files of the White House office which handled administration personnel appointments. Included are files on the search for potential appointees, the screening process used to evaluate candidates and solicit opinions, and the Presidential decision process. The bulk of the collection concerns appointments to positions in Cabinet departments, independent regulatory agencies, the Federal judiciary, and the numerous Federal boards and commissions. Only occasional scattered folders concern appointments to the White House staff. [273 linear feet (ca. 500,000 pages)]. View the collection's finding aid.

Parts of this collection are blanket closed. Researchers may contact the Library for information about how to appeal the access restriction decision of individual documents. Other parts of the collection are available as review on request. Researchers may contact the Library to request that particular folders be added to the review-for-access queue.

The Library opened the Domestic Trips File, First Family Trips File, and Administrative File series [61.8 linear feet (ca. 119,200 pages)] from the Byron M. "Red" Cavaney Files. These series are available as review on request. Researchers may contact the Library to request that particular folders be added to the review-for-access queue.

January 29, 2015
The Library opened accretions [0.9 linear feet (ca. 1,200 pages)] to the Composite Grand Rapids Accessions, 1912-2013 collection.

January 16, 2015
The Library opened the Ambassador’s Correspondence File, 1981-85, [11.4 linear feet (ca. 20,800 pages)] from the Arthur Burns Papers.

The Library opened the Betty Ford Center File, 1980-92 [6.6 linear feet (ca. 12,000 pages)] from the Betty Ford Papers. A finding aid for the Post-White House sub-collection of the Betty Ford Papers is not available at this time. Please contact the Library for more information about this series.

The Library opened accretions [2.4 linear feet (ca. 4,400 pages)] to the Composite General Accessions, 1902-2013 collection.

The Library has posted a list of documents declassified in whole or in part through the Mandatory Declassification Review process during the months of October to December 2014. You can also see lists of documents declassified in earlier quarters. Researchers may contact us for additional information about the newly opened documents or to order copies.

See News Notes for Ford Library Researchers for the year 2014