Archival Research Catalog (ARC)
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Historical Documents Online: Search Hints for Selected Topics

U.S. Presidents: Reagan

Selected Reagan Records in ARC

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  • White House Photographic Collection, 1981 - 1989
    100 photographs have been digitized from this collection of color and black and white photographs. The photographs document the daily activities of President and Mrs. Reagan. Included within this collection are photographs of speeches, state dinners, foreign and domestic trips, trips to Rancho DelCielo and Camp David, White House staff meetings, Cabinet meetings, Oval Office meetings, press briefings, the 1984 campaign, and Nancy Reagan events. Also included are a small number of historical photographs. These photographs are held by the Ronald Reagan Library (Simi Valley, CA).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 100 digitized documents:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Select the Advanced search.
    4. Scroll down to the Collection Identifier lookup filter. Press the lookup button.
    5. Enter the exact phrase {RR-WHPO} in the Keywords box.
    6. Press the Go button. The title of the Collections will display.
    7. Paste the collections into the advanced screen by pressing the All button. ARC will take you back to the Advanced Search Screen, with "RR-WHPO" now pasted in the Collection Identifier(s) box.
    8. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies.
    9. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    10. Press the Go button. The result page will tell you 100 hit(s) were retrieved with filters applied.
    11. Press the Display all Hits button.
    12. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

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    ARC Identifier: 198569, Title: "Photograph of Princess Diana dancing with John Travolta at a White House dinner for the Prince and Princess of Wales, 11/09/1985"

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  • White House Office of Records Management File Systems (White House Central Files), January 20, 1981 - January 20, 1989
    46 documents have been digitized from the White House Office of Records Management (WHORM), a permanent unit within the White House complex that maintained a central filing and retrieval system for President Reagan and his staff. These files reflect the full range of Reagan White House activities. The newly digitized documents include material relating to the drafting of Ronald Reagan's June 13, 1987 address at the Brandenburg Gate, West Berlin (the speech which included the statement "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"). Also included is selected correspondence relating to the space shuttle Challenger disaster. These materials are held by the Ronald Reagan Library (Simi Valley, CA).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 46 digitized documents:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Select the Advanced search.
    4. Scroll down to the Collection Identifier lookup filter. Press the lookup button.
    5. Enter the exact phrase {RR-WHORM} in the Keywords box.
    6. Press the Go button. The title of the Collections will display.
    7. Paste the collections into the advanced screen by pressing the All button. ARC will take you back to the Advanced Search Screen, with "RR-WHORM" now pasted in the Collection Identifier(s) box.
    8. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies.
    9. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    10. Press the Go button. The result page will tell you 46 hit(s) were retrieved with filters applied.
    11. Press the Display all Hits button.
    12. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

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    ARC Identifier: 198483, Title: "Presidential Address: Brandenburg Gate, (West) Berlin, German, Friday, June 12, 1987 (6/1/1987 NSC draft), 05/29/1987 - 06/01/1987"

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  • White House Staff and Office Collections, 1981 - 1989
    Two documents have been digitized from this collection.  The first, "A Call for a Bold Defense (3/23/83 10:30am draft)" comes from the "White House Office of Speechwriting: Staff and Office Files."
    The second is the "White House Press Briefing Following Assassination Attempt on Ronald Reagan" which comes from the White House Office of the Press Secretary: Staff and Office Files. These materials are held by the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California.

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 2 digitized documents:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Select the Advanced search.
    4. Scroll down to the Collection Identifier lookup filter. Press the lookup button.
    5. Enter the exact phrase {RR-SMOF} in the Keywords box.
    6. Press the Go button. The title of the Collections will display.
    7. Paste the collections into the advanced screen by pressing the All button. ARC will take you back to the Advanced Search Screen, with "RR-SMOF" now pasted in the Collection Identifier(s) box.
    8. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies.
    9. Select the limit results radio button for 100.
    10. Press the Go button. The result page will tell you 2 hit(s) were retrieved with filters applied.
    11. Press the Display all Hits button.
    12. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

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    ARC Identifier: 198412, Title: "White House Press Briefing Following Assassination Attempt on Ronald Reagan, 04/01/1981", Local Identifier: NLS-SMOF-PRESSSECPRESSBRFGS-BRFG50-BRFG50

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  • Executive Secretariat, National Security Council: Records: Head of State File, 1981 - 1989
    17 documents in this series have been digitized. The series contains material documenting the drafting, sending, and reception of correspondence between President Ronald Reagan and foreign heads of state and/or government. Included are original letters which Reagan received from foreign leaders, and copies of Reagan's outgoing correspondence. The materials are held by Ronald Reagan Library (Simi Valley, CA).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 17 digitized documents:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter National Security Council Executive Secretariat in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit hits radio button for 100.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies.
    6. Press the Go button.
    7. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link.

    From the Collection:

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    ARC Identifier: 198144, Title: "Copy of Handwritten Letter from Ronald Reagan to Leonid Brezhnev, 04/24/1981"

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  • National Security Decision Directives, February 25, 1981 - January 19, 1989
    243 directives have been digitized from this series. National Security Decision Directives (NSDD) were issued by President Ronald Reagan and his Assistants to the President for National Security Affairs to set forth official national security policy for the guidance of the defense, intelligence, and foreign policy establishments of the United States Government. Presidential administrations have issued similar numbered papers to guide policy since the formation of the National Security Council (NSC) in 1947. Each directive was given a number assigned in sequence in order of issuance. The originals of these documents are presidential records in the custody of the NSC. As the NSC declassifies and releases NSDDs, public reference copies are placed with the Civilian Records (College Park, MD) and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library (Simi Valley, CA).

    Search Hint: To retrieve the 243 digitized documents:

    1. Go to http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/.
    2. Press the Yellow search button to go to the Basic search screen.
    3. Enter National Security Decision in the Keywords box.
    4. Select the limit hits radio button for 1000.
    5. Select the box marked Descriptions of Archival Materials linked to digital copies.
    6. Select the Location filter for Ronald Reagan Library (Simi Valley) and NARA's Civilian Records (College Park).
    7. Press the Go button.
    8. When hits are returned for your search, view the full result of your hit by selecting the Title link National Security Decision Directives, 02/25/1981 - 01/19/1989..
    9. g. Scroll down to the part of the description that says Includes 243 items. Click on that link to view the hit list for all items.

    From the Collection:

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    ARC Identifier: 198168, Title: "National Security Council Structure, 01/12/1982"

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