President Carter, First Lady Carter, & Presidential Libraries: Presidential Libraries

Presidential Libraries hold the raw materials of history:   evidence of democracy at work and of the continuing relevance of the Presidents' past decisions.

"Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter and their wives all attended the opening of the newest presidential library. First ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Barbara Bush, and Rosalynn Carter first took the stage." PBSNewsHour

"Watch the construction of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in two minutes." TheBushCenter

President Kennedy's forty-sixth news conference was held in the State Department Auditorium at 4 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, December 12, 1962.

Director Jay Hakes talks about his 'favorite thing' at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library.

Learn about the Office of Presidential Libraries

The Office of Presidential Libraries administers a nationwide network of Presidential libraries beginning with the 31st President of the United States, Herbert Hoover. Currently, this includes:

• 15 Presidential Libraries (as of 2023 when this guide was revised)
• Presidential Materials Staff
• Central Office Staff

These are not traditional libraries, but rather repositories for preserving and making accessible the papers, records, and other historical materials of U.S. Presidents. Presidential Libraries and Museums are great treasures of our nation's history. They are important sources for historians and other researchers studying our presidents and our history. In addition to archiving and preserving presidential papers and objects, presidential libraries and museums bring history to millions of visitors from around the world.  Learn More....

When a President leaves office, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) establishes a Presidential project until a new Presidential library is built and transferred to the Government.

The Office of Presidential Libraries:

• Establishes and coordinates policies with regard to Presidential Libraries, including programs for acquisition, preservation, and use of historical materials, and the development of new Presidential libraries.
• Provides oversight of budgetary and management controls within the libraries and regularly convenes staff in the libraries to establish and review strategies for implementing the mission and goals of Presidential libraries.
• In coordination with NARA's General Counsel and other NARA officials, maintains liaison with the incumbent administration and with officials of former administrations with regard to organization, storage and reference service on Presidential materials.

The Office of the Law Revision Counsel prepares and publishes the United States Code, which is a consolidation and codification by subject matter of the general and permanent laws of the United States.