Guide to Federal Records

Records of the White House Office


(Record Group 130)
1814-1977
352 cu. ft.

Table of Contents

  • 130.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY
  • 130.2 RECORDS OF VARIOUS WHITE HOUSE STAFF OFFICES AND OFFICIALS PREDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE 1814-1960 81 lin. ft.
  • 130.2.1 General records
  • 130.2.2 Records relating to legislative matters
  • 130.2.3 Budgetary records
  • 130.2.4 Accounting records
  • 130.2.5 Nomination, appointment, and other personnel records
  • 130.2.6 Miscellaneous records
  • 130.3 RECORDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE 1912-77 262 lin. ft.
  • 130.3.1 General records
  • 130.3.2 Budgetary records
  • 130.3.3 Accounting records
  • 130.3.4 Personnel records
  • 130.3.5 Records relating to committees, commissions, and special projects
  • 130.3.6 Records of the Medal for Merit Boards
  • 130.3.7 Miscellaneous records
  • 130.4 CARTOGRAPHIC RECORDS (GENERAL)
  • 130.5 MOTION PICTURES (GENERAL) 1924-32 5 reels
  • 130.6 SOUND RECORDINGS (GENERAL) 1950-71 165 items

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130.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

Established: By EO 8248, September 8, 1939, as one of the five divisions of the Executive Office of the President. Functions: Performs administrative duties assigned by the President. Maintains communication with the Congress and its individual members, heads of Executive agencies, the press, and the general public.

Related Records: Records of the military aide to the President relating to arrangements for dinners, receptions, and other official and semiofficial functions at the White House, 1897-1929, in RG 42, Records of the Office of Public Buildings and Public Parks of the National Capital. Motion pictures relating to Presidential administrations and sound recordings of Presidential speeches and addresses in National Archives collection of donated materials. Papers and collections of Presidents Hoover through Johnson, and Ford through Reagan, in their respective libraries; those of President Nixon in Nixon Presidential Materials.

RECORDS
RECORD TYPES RECORD LOCATIONS QUANTITIES
Textual Records Washington Area 111 cu. ft.
  Eisenhower Library 35 cu. ft.
  Hoover Library 7 cu. ft.
  Johnson Library 26 cu. ft.
  Kennedy Library 18 cu. ft.
  Nixon Presidential Materials 57 cu. ft.
  Roosevelt Library 30 cu. ft.
  Truman Library 28 cu. ft.
Arch/engrg Plans Eisenhower Library 1 item
  Nixon Presidential Materials 7 items
  Truman Library 39 items
Motion Pictures College Park 5 reels
Sound Recordings Eisenhower Library 2 items
  Nixon Presidential Materials 1 item
  Truman Library 162 items

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130.2 RECORDS OF VARIOUS WHITE HOUSE STAFF OFFICES AND OFFICIALS PREDATING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE
1814-1960
81 lin. ft.

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130.2.1 General records

Textual Records: Letters sent by President Rutherford B. Hayes and his secretary, 1877-81. Registers of correspondence and departmental requests for Executive action, 1885-1913. Subject files, 1910-33. Housekeeping records, 1923-33. White House press releases, 1900-1, 1905, 1909-12. Copies of Executive orders and proclamations, 1869-1913. Records relating to Presidential inaugurations, 1909-25. Records relating to the annual White House receptions, 1914-17, 1923-41. Supplemental accounts of the Treasurer of the United States as Agent of the War and Navy Department, 1817-31. Quarterly accounts of the Treasurer of the United States, 1824-36. Sixth census of the United States, 1840. Annual reports of the Secretary of the Treasury, 1903, 1906, 1907.

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130.2.2 Records relating to legislative matters

Textual Records: Presidential messages to Congress, 1869-1913. Records relating to pocket vetoes, 1886-1941. Registers of acts and resolutions of Congress, 1861-1913. Congressional resolutions of inquiry, 1873-1913. Handwritten entries of Senate resolutions concerning treaties and other foreign relations matters ("Journal for the Senate in Executive Session"), 1869-77.

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130.2.3 Budgetary records

Textual Records: Appropriations scrapbook, 1852. Trial balance ledgers, 1916-27. Records relating to the Food and Fuel Administrations, 1917-18.

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130.2.4 Accounting records

Textual Records: Miscellaneous account ledgers, 1910-32. Ledgers of disbursements and accounts with the Treasury, 1877-1928. Payrolls, 1890-1926. Registers of purchase orders, 1911-23. Correspondence relating to oil and naval petroleum reserves, 1924-32.

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130.2.5 Nomination, appointment, and other personnel records

Textual Records: Index of persons nominated for or appointed to public office, 1814-20. Records relating to Presidential nominations sent to the Senate, consisting of a register, 1857- 65; and a daily record, 1857-1913. Registers of appointments, 1889-1909; recess appointments, 1857-1912; and appointments to minor offices in the departments and in the District of Columbia, 1905-12. Registers of appointments made by the President to positions in the states, 1857-1912; and to diplomatic and military positions, 1861-1912. Registers of attorneys, marshals, and clerks of district and circuit courts, 1861-66. List of employees at the War and Navy Departments, 1898. Miscellaneous correspondence relating to personnel, 1899-1929.

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130.2.6 Miscellaneous records

Textual Records: Registers of Presidential actions on court- martial cases, 1863-65, 1870-83, and on pardon application reviews, 1869-85, 1907-13. Appointment files for the National Industrial Commissions, 1898. Records relating to the redesign of the Presidential seal, 1916-60, with gaps (in Truman Library). Records relating to the Committee on Public Information, 1917. Records relating to the German-Bolshevik conspiracy, 1918.

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130.3 RECORDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE
1912-77
262 lin. ft.

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130.3.1 General records

Textual Records: White House press releases, 1947-69. Records relating to the House Judiciary Committee impeachment proceedings, 1974 (in Nixon Presidential Materials). Records relating to the annual White House receptions, 1946-57. Government publications, consisting of reports by agencies to Congress and the President; and reports and messages sent to Congress by the President during the Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson administrations, 1947-69.

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130.3.2 Budgetary records

Textual Records: Budgetary reports and estimates, 1929-49; and trial balance ledgers, 1927-52 (in Hoover, Roosevelt, and Truman Libraries). Transfer and counter warrants, 1935-46 (in Roosevelt and Truman Libraries). Records relating to transfers between appropriations, 1954-74 (in Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson Libraries, and Nixon Presidential Materials). Records relating to the status of appropriations for salaries, expenses, and special projects, 1959-71 (in Kennedy and Johnson Libraries, and Nixon Presidential Materials). Records relating to White House expenditures, 1937-59; and to defense aid financial statements, 1941-44 (in Roosevelt Library). Report on status of appropriations, 1941-50 (in Truman Library). Budget estimates for the Executive Office of the President, 1948-63 (in Eisenhower Library). Treasury reports, 1970-72 (in Nixon Presidential Materials).

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130.3.3 Accounting records

Textual Records: Purchase authority records, 1934-49 (in Hoover, Roosevelt, and Truman Libraries). Miscellaneous accounting records, 1912-69 (in Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson Libraries). Accounts of the disbursing officer, 1929-72 (in Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson Libraries, and Nixon Presidential Materials). Special accounts, 1929-66 (in Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, and Kennedy Libraries). Telephone service vouchers, 1929- 68 (in Hoover, Roosevelt, and Johnson Libraries). Status of vouchers, 1939-50; and schedules of disbursements, 1943-49 (in Roosevelt and Truman Libraries). Miscellaneous Presidential travel records, 1934-68 (in Roosevelt, Truman, and Eisenhower Libraries). General account ledgers of the Executive Office of the President, 1928-65 (in Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, and Kennedy Libraries). Records relating to salary and miscellaneous expenses for the President, 1931-69 (in Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, and Johnson Libraries). Schedules of collections, 1935-75 (in Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson Libraries). Rapidan gasoline records, 1929-30 (in Hoover Library). Miscellaneous account ledgers, 1933-41; registers of purchase orders, 1923-68; and a list of federal government contracts, 1940-53 (in Roosevelt Library). Records relating to Presidential travel expenses, 1960-68 (in Kennedy Library). Records relating to the status of reception and representation funds, 1962-74 (in Johnson Library). Travel requests and vouchers, 1971-75; vendors' accounts, 1969-74; certificates of deposit, 1968-74; and expense records of the White House Health Unit, 1971-77 (in Nixon Presidential Materials).

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130.3.4 Personnel records

Textual Records: Payroll control registers, 1946-72 (in Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson Libraries, and Nixon Presidential Materials). Personnel files for the Hoover administration, 1929-32 (in Hoover Library). Lists of Negro employees at the White House, 1933 (in Roosevelt Library). Estimates of personnel requirements, 1945-50 (in Truman Library). Photographs of Kennedy administration White House employees, 1960-63 (in Kennedy Library). Miscellaneous personnel records for the Johnson administration, 1966-68 (in Johnson Library). Miscellaneous personnel and staff records for the Nixon administration, 1969-74, including job classification card files, 1969-72, and reports of changes in White House personnel, 1970-73 (in Nixon Presidential Materials).

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130.3.5 Records relating to committees, commissions, and special
projects

Textual Records: Administrative files on Presidential commissions, 1946-70 (in Truman, Eisenhower, and Johnson Libraries, and Nixon Presidential Materials). Disbursements for the Advisory Committee to the Council of National Defense, 1940 (in Roosevelt Library). Records relating to commissions and special projects of the Truman administration, 1949-53 (in Truman Library). Subject files on Presidential commissions, 1948-68 (in Johnson Library). Records relating to special projects of the Eisenhower administration, 1952-63 (in Eisenhower Library).

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130.3.6 Records of the Medal for Merit Boards

Textual Records: Case files of approved awards for the Medal for Merit, 1942-48; and the Certificate of Merit, 1946-48, and of awards withdrawn or refused, 1945-48. Name index to persons given awards, 1942-48. Correspondence and related records concerning the awards and the boards, 1942-48.

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130.3.7 Miscellaneous records

Textual Records: White House space design files, 1964-67 (in Johnson Library). Miscellaneous files, 1963-69 (in Johnson Library and Nixon Presidential Materials).

Architectural Plans (47 items): White House and Executive Office Building floor plans, 1945-47 (39 items, in Truman Library); 1960 (1 item, in Eisenhower Library); and 1969, consisting of 1948 floor plans annotated to show 1969 office occupants (7 items, in Nixon Presidential Materials).

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130.4 CARTOGRAPHIC RECORDS (GENERAL)

SEE Architectural Plans UNDER 130.3.7.

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130.5 MOTION PICTURES (GENERAL)
1924-32
5 reels

Events of the Coolidge and Hoover administrations, 1924-32.

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130.6 SOUND RECORDINGS (GENERAL)
1950-71
165 items

Speeches of and ceremonies attended by President Truman, 1950-53 (162 items, in Truman Library). Statements at the opening of the Prince Albert Radar Laboratory, Canada, by President Eisenhower and Canadian Prime Minister John G. Diefenbaker, 1959 (2 items, in Eisenhower Library). Statement by President Nixon concerning foreign policy initiatives, 1971 (1 item, in Nixon Presidential Materials).


Bibliographic note: Web version based on Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States. Compiled by Robert B. Matchette et al. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1995.
3 volumes, 2428 pages.

Ordering information

This Web version is updated from time to time to include records processed since 1995.


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