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A Guide to Presidential Papers, Congressional Papers, and Classified Materials

A guide to debates about public versus private ownership of the papers of elected federal officials. Information is also provided about classified materials and procedures surrounding them.

The Fifteen Presidential Libraries

There are currently 15 Presidential Libraries and Museums within the National Archives system. They are located throughout the United States, from California on the West Coast to Boston, Massachusetts on the East Coast, as well as in Iowa, Michigan, Texas, and other locations. Of the 15 Presidential Libraries and Museums that the National Archives manages, 13 of them have a building that has been built and is open to the public for visits. The Barack Obama Presidential Library is the first Presidential Library to be fully digital and available online. The Obama Presidential Center has not been built yet; it is being constructed by the Obama Foundation on Chicago's South Side. The Donald J. Trump Presidential Library and Museum has also not been built. According to federal regulations, President Trump's papers will remain closed until at least 2025.