The National Archives and Records Administration, in partnership with
private support foundations, administers 13 individual presidential libraries
comprising the Presidential Library System. These privately constructed,
publicly supported archives not only preserve official presidential records
but through their museum displays offer visitors a glimpse into the life and
times of specific presidents. Utilizing legislation, archival documents, and
elite interviews to characterize governance and administration structures
of these relationships, this study outlines the nature of current public–
private partnerships within the Presidential Library System, as well as the
potential departure from existing frameworks for future partnerships absent
formalized guidance procedures.
