Abstract
The education papers are the first category of Presidential Papers in the Lyndon B. Johnson Library to be opened to the public. Constituting some 225,000 documents, the papers provide a rich primary source for researchers in education. The new Library housing the papers is an elegant eight-story building on the campus of The University of Texas, Austin.
The Library is operated by the National Archives and Records Service. Director Harry J. Middleton and a staff of seven archivists service both the collection and its users. The education papers constitute one of 62 categories used to classify the total collection. "The White House classification system is specifically designed to serve the working needs of the President's Office rather than those of researchers," commented Charles Corkran, senior archivist. However, the archivists know both the collection and the classification system well and currently are able to provide customized service on an individual basis to scholars wishing to use the papers. The stacks are closed, but page service is provided to the 28 desk-carrels in the attractive reading room. Although strict National Archives regulations ostensibly govern the use of the library, actual procedures at present appear reasonable, relaxed, and informal. Middleton recommends that researchers desiring to use the Library resources write in advance, outlining the scope of their inquiry and dates or time range. No inter-Library loan or micro-reproduction is available, but limited xerographic reproduction can be arranged by correspondence.
A symposium, "Educating a Nation: The Changing American Commitment", sponsored jointly by the University and the Library, was held January 24–25 to mark the opening of the education papers. Principal speakers included John Gardner, Wilbur Cohen. Sidney Marland, William McGill and Lyndon Johnson. Dr. Cohen's address provides an overview and perspective of the new historical data now available to the educational research and development community.
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