Agency Sites for Accessing Classified Documents via Freedom of Information Act and Liaisons for Public Assistance
Accessing Records from Presidential Libraries: A Guide
For those seeking to access records from Presidential Libraries, it is important to understand the differences in how these records are handled. The Presidential Records Act (PRA) plays a crucial role in this distinction.
Presidential Libraries subject to PRA
These libraries contain presidential records created or received by a president or their staff during their administration. Examples include the George W. Bush Presidential Library, the Barack Obama Presidential Library, and the William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library. FOIA applies to these libraries, and requests for these presidential records are processed under FOIA rules by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), which manages these libraries.
Here is a list of contact details for FOIA requester Service Centers in PRA libraries:
- The George W. Bush Presidential Library: 214-346-1650
- The Barack Obama Presidential Library: 847-252-5799
- The William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library: 501-244-2877
- The Gerald R. Ford Library: 734-205-0555
- The Gerald R. Ford Museum: 616-254-0400
- The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation: 616-254-0400
- The Jimmy Carter Library: 404-865-7100
- The George H.W. Bush Presidential Library: 979-691-4041
- The Lyndon B. Johnson Library: 512-721-0212
- The John F. Kennedy Library: 617-514-1609
- The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library: 800-410-8354
- The Richard Nixon Library: 714-983-9120
- The Harry S. Truman Library: 816-268-8272
- The Dwight D. Eisenhower Library: 785-263-6700
- The Franklin D. Roosevelt Library: 845-486-1142
- The National Archives at Boston: 781-663-0144
- The National Archives at New York: 212-401-1620
- The National Archives at San Francisco: 650-238-3501
- The National Archives at Seattle: 206-336-5115
- The National Archives at St. Louis: 314-801-0700
- The National Archives at Chicago: 773-948-9000
- The National Archives at Kansas City: 816-268-8000
- The National Archives at Denver: 303-604-4740
- The National Archives at Riverside: 951-956-2000
- The National Archives at Fort Worth: 817-551-2051
- The National Archives at Washington, DC (PRA Records): 301-837-3190
Presidential Libraries not subject to PRA
Libraries of presidents before the PRA was enacted, such as the libraries of Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, do not have presidential records covered by the PRA. Their collections typically consist of donated materials and personal papers. FOIA does not apply to these libraries' holdings. Instead, access to their records is governed by archival regulations and donor agreements rather than FOIA.
Nixon Presidential Materials
The Nixon Presidential Materials are treated separately by the Nixon Presidential Materials Staff, which also follows FOIA procedures but under a unique statutory regime distinct from the PRA.
FOIA Contacts
For FOIA requests related to Accessioned Executive Branch Agency Records in the Washington, DC area, contact the FOIA Public Liaison Rebecca Calcagno at 301-837-3190. For general FOIA-related inquiries, contact the NARA Operational FOIA and Access Division's FOIA Requester Information Line at 301-837-3642, or the FOIA Public Liaison Matt Dummermuth at [email protected] or 301-837-1750. The NARA Office of Inspector General Records' FOIA Public Liaison is William Brown at 301-837-3000.
In practical terms, this means FOIA requests for records from PRA libraries are formally handled under FOIA with exemptions and review processes consistent with federal agency records, whereas for non-PRA libraries, FOIA does not grant a right to disclosure, and access depends mainly on the library's policies and restrictions set by donors or archival rules.
This distinction affects how records are requested, reviewed, and disclosed to the public through FOIA mechanisms.
The distinction between Presidential Libraries subject to the Presidential Records Act (PRA) and those not subject to it is significant. While libraries like the George W. Bush Presidential Library, Barack Obama Presidential Library, and William Jefferson Clinton Presidential Library are subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and have records managed by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), libraries of presidents before the PRA was enacted, such as the libraries of Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt, do not have their presidential records covered by the PRA. Instead, access to their records is governed by archival regulations and donor agreements rather than FOIA. In contrast, the Nixon Presidential Materials are treated separately and follow FOIA procedures but under a unique statutory regime distinct from the PRA.
