Press/Journalists

National Archives Nixon Presidential Library to Open Nixon-Era Materials
Media Alert · Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Washington, DC

WHAT: The Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, one of 13 Presidential libraries operated by the National Archives and Records Administration, will open approximately 280,000 pages of textual materials, 12 hours of sound recordings, and 7,000 images from the personal collection of White House photographer Oliver F. Atkins (“Ollie”) at the National Archives College Park, MD, facility and at the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, CA.

WHEN: Monday, January 11, 2010
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (EST) – College Park, MD
9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (PST) –Yorba Linda, CA
9:00 a.m. EST (6:00 a.m. PST) – Online: www.nixonlibrary.gov

WHERE: Lecture Rooms A and B, National Archives at College Park
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD

Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum
18001 Yorba Linda Blvd.
Yorba Linda, CA 92886

Online at: www.nixonlibrary.gov

Materials to be released in College Park, MD:

  • 5,500 pages declassified, in whole or in part, as the result of mandatory review requests from individual researchers. These documents essentially cover national security matters;
     
  • Approximately 20,000 pages of formerly restricted materials from the White House Special Files and Staff Member and Office files. These newly-opened documents comprise several memoranda by President Nixon, Charles W. Colson, Patrick J. Buchanan and H. R. “Bob” Haldeman on policy, campaign tactics, political matters and political appointments;
     
  • White House files on the National Capital Housing Authority, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the National Commission on the Cause & Prevention of Violence, as well as the materials of the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition and Health;
     
  • Approximately 12 hours of previously restricted audio recordings of toasts, greetings and briefings recorded by the White House Communications Agency;
     
  • Donated photographic materials of chief White House photographer Oliver F. Atkins. Comprising over 7,000 photographic negatives, transparencies, prints, contact sheets and related publications, this collection spans the important career of Oliver F. Atkins from the early 1940's through the 1970's.  This is a major addition to the Nixon Library’s audio-visual collection.

Materials to be released in Yorba Linda, CA:

  • Approximately 40,000 pages of domestic policy materials from the Health, Education and Welfare and White House files of Frederic V. Malek;
     
  • Approximately 75,000 pages from Mr. Malek’s files from the Committee for the Re-Election of the President (CRP), where he served as Deputy Campaign Manager in 1972. The Nixon Library received the CRP files as part of a large 2007 deed of gift of political and campaign materials from the Nixon Foundation;
     
  • A small collection of Alexander M. Haig, Jr.’s staff member and office files.

Selected documents and photographs will be made available online at www.nixonlibrary.gov.

Additionally, the Nixon Library has digitized and uploaded the entire “Returned White House Special Files” collection (approximately 25,000 pages). Returned to the Nixon estate in the 1990s, these documents were deeded to the National Archives by the Nixon Foundation and opened to the public in July 2007. On January 11, 2010, they will accessible via the web.

Other Information

All researchers, including the media, must have a valid National Archives researcher card prior to gaining access to the records. Researcher cards may be obtained at either facility with a photo ID. Clean research room rules apply and no recording or transmission devices of any kind will be allowed in the research room. Laptop computers and scanners are permitted.

The National Archives facility in College Park does not currently provide wireless access to the Internet. A limited number of computers with Internet access will be available on a first come first served basis.

Due to parking limitations at College Park during openings, researchers are encouraged to use the National Archives shuttle bus service between the Washington, DC and College Park, MD buildings. The shuttle buses depart from both buildings between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on the hour.

# # #

For research information, contact the Nixon Library staff at:

College Park, Maryland: 301-837-3290
Yorba Linda, California: 714-983-9120

National Archives Public Affairs Staff: 202-357-5300

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This page was last reviewed on April 10, 2019.
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