The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library was established to preserve and make
available for research the papers and memorabilia of President Lyndon
Baines Johnson. In addition, the Library actively collects the papers
of Johnson's contemporaries and conducts an oral history program designed
to supplement the written record. The Johnson Library is part of a system
of presidential libraries administered by the National Archives and Records
Administration.
HOLDINGS
The Library holds
more than 45 million documents, an extensive audiovisual collection, and
1,500 oral history interviews. The papers of
Lyndon B. Johnson, which form the core of the Library's holdings, include
the White House files of his presidency, 1963-1969, and papers from his
service as a U.S. Congressman, 1937-1949; U.S. Senator, 1949-1961; and
Vice President, 1961-1963.
In addition, the Library
holds the papers of several hundred other individuals, including family,
friends, and associates of Lyndon B. Johnson and members of his presidential
administration. These collections are described in the Library's Historical
Materials in the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library (1988). An updated version is currently in progress and will be available
on our web site. The size of manuscript holdings is listed in linear feet.
As a rule of thumb, one linear foot includes roughly 2,000 pages, and
a roll of microfilm holds approximately 1,000 pages.
Materials in the Library
are available on an equal basis to all researchers. However, some collections
have not yet been processed and therefore are not yet open for research.
The Library is also required to withdraw certain documents from processed
manuscript collections in accordance with Federal government regulations
or with restrictions imposed by donors in their deeds of gift. Donor restrictions
result in the withdrawal of a small number of documents, usually to protect
individual privacy. Federal government regulations require the withdrawal
of a larger number of documents, usually for reasons of national security.
Documents which have
been withdrawn from collections are listed on withdrawal sheets, which
are placed in the file folders made available to researchers. Researchers
may request the review of donor restricted documents by writing to the
Director of the Library. Under the provisions of Executive Order 12958,
as amended, any researcher may request declassification review of individual documents
withdrawn for reasons of national security. Additional information on
both review procedures may be obtained from the Library.
SECONDARY
SOURCE MATERIAL
The Library maintains
a specialized book collection with an emphasis on the U.S. Presidency
and the time period of Lyndon Johnson's public service. The Library's
secondary source material is supplemented by the vast resources of the
Universtiy of Texas at Austin library system. UT libraries are open to
the public for general use. For rules governing borrowing policies, please
call the Courtesy Borrowers Desk and Circulation Services at 512-495-4300
or visit their web site at http://lbjlibrary.org.
WEB
INFORMATION
Our web site address
is www.lbjlibrary.org and
includes the following information:
Researcher
Information
List
of Holdings
Guides
on Foreign Policy Topics
Oral History List
Selected
Oral History Transcripts
Guide
to President Johnson's Telephone Conversations
Biographical
Information on President Lyndon B. Johnson
Biographical
Information on Mrs. Johnson
Selected
Speeches of Lyndon Baines Johnson
Selected
Days from President's Daily Diary
Frequently
Asked Questions
Photographic
Archives selections
and information pertaining
to other departments of the Library. A grant application is on our web site, and a list of accommodations near the Library is available upon request.
OFF-SITE
ACCESS: REFERENCE REQUESTS AND LOANS
The Library will provide
answers to specific questions received by telephone or mail if the information
can reasonably be provided from the Library's archival holdings. Photocopies
of specific documents or entire folders may also be ordered by mail or
telephone. However, the Library cannot undertake substantial research
or select documents for copying.
The Library loans
oral history transcripts, finding aids for manuscript collections, duplicates
of task force reports, and additional items as possible. Original documents
and files are not available for loan. Loan requests may be made directly
to the Interlibrary Loan Archivist at the Library. As many as four items
may be borrowed at one time. Items will be sent directly to the researcher's
home or office or to another interlibrary loan institution. Loans are
made for a period of two weeks.
Transcripts of oral
histories include a copy of the deed of gift that specifies any restrictions,
including literary property rights, copyright, and photocopying restrictions.
It is the responsibility of the researcher to abide by these restrictions.
Access to certain oral history transcripts requires written permission
of the interviewee. Researchers may contact the Library for addresses
of these individuals as well as suggested draft letters and permission
forms.
READING
ROOM
The Reading Room,
where requested documents will be served to visiting researchers, is located
on the 10 th floor of the LBJ Library and Museum. The Reading
Room is open for research Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
except on Federal holidays.
The phone number is 512-721-0212.
ITEMS
PERMITTED IN THE READING ROOM
Researchers are welcome
to use their own computers and typewriters in the Reading Room. Transcribing
devices are permissible as long as other researchers are not disturbed.
Personal copiers and scanners are NOT permitted.
DUPLICATION
OF TEXTUAL AND AUDIOVISUAL MATERIAL
Photocopies of documents
may be ordered in the Reading Room. In addition, a self-service copier
is available in the Reading Room for copying from a limited number of
collections. Researchers may use their own digital cameras (without flash) or one of the Library's cameras to create digital images of documents. The Reading Room also has a microfilm reader-printer. Instructions
and information about restrictions and fees are available upon request.
CDs of available recordings of President Johnson's
telephone conversations may also be ordered in the Reading Room.
Copies of other audiovisual
materials can normally be purchased unless copyright restrictions prevent
it. The Library will reproduce audio tapes on either CD or cassette; videotapes
and motion pictures on videocassette; and still images as digital prints
or digital files on CD. Consult the Audiovisual Archivist for ordering
reproductions of all audiovisual materials.
COPYRIGHT
Observance of copyright
and literary property rights retained by the donor is the responsibility
of the researcher. The Library staff will provide information on the ownership
of materials in our collections.
GRANTS
Limited numbers of
grants-in-aid of research are awarded twice a year by the Lyndon Baines
Johnson Foundation. Deadlines for applications are March 15 and September 15 of each year. Grants are awarded for the sole purpose of helping to
defray living, travel, and related expenses incurred while conducting
research at the Library. Grants normally range in size from $500 to $2,500. Application forms are available
on our web site or by request to the Supervisory Archivist. Prior to submitting
a grant-in-aid proposal, it is strongly recommended that applicants contact
the Library for information concerning materials available on the proposed
research topic.
BEFORE
MAKING TRAVEL PLANS
Researchers planning
a visit should notify the Supervisory Archivist of their research topic
and travel plans as far in advance as possible. Prospective researchers
are strongly encouraged to contact the Library for information about materials
available on their topic. Upon arriving at the Library, each researcher
will be briefed by an archivist on Reading Room procedures and relevant
holdings. It is preferable to arrange an appointment time with the interviewing
archivist prior to arrival.
Copies of the Library's
list of holdings and guides to specific topics are available upon request
and are available in part on our web site.
LOCATION
AND TRANSPORTATION
The Library is located
on the campus of The University of Texas
at Austin, just off Interstate 35. It may be reached by taking the
Manor Street exit (exit 235B), marked "LBJ Library and Museum,"
and following the signs to the Library
Transportation to
the Library is available from the airport by taxi or by shuttle. Information
regarding the Super Shuttle is available at http://www.supershuttle.com or by calling local reservations at 512-258-3826 or out of area reservations
at 1-800-258-3826. Some hotels provide a shuttle if requested in advance.
Capitol Metro (public
transportation in Austin) provides limited service between UT and the
downtown area and airport. One of the stops is at San Jacinto and 26th,
near the Library. Route and schedule information can be found at www.capmetro.org. The bus itself is called the #100 Austin-Bergstrom Airport (Limited).
It runs roughly every 70 minutes.
The Campus Loop Shuttle
provides limited service between the Library and the University of Texas
campus.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Overnight accommodations
are within walking distance of the Library. In addition, several national
chains have hotels or motels which are a short drive from the Library.
A list of nearby hotels is available upon request. A few restaurants are
nearby, and snacks and meals are available at the Joe C. Thompson Conference
Center behind the Library.
|