There are currently 13 presidential libraries, one for every former president since Hoover. And the site of the 14th presidential library has been revealed: the Obama Presidential Center will be located in Chicago.
Where did the presidential papers go before the era of presidential
libraries? According to a CRS Report
describing the legislative history of the Presidential Libraries Act, the
papers were initially thought of as personal property, and many of them were
lost or destroyed.
With the advent of presidential libraries, these papers are much
better preserved. For example, although
his time in office was relatively short, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential
Library & Museum offers some fascinating digital material, from state
dinner menus and programs to National
Security Council meeting agendas and minutes – fodder for lawyers and
nonlawyers alike.