Welcome back to our occasional series “Off the Record,” a curated collection of articles we found interesting on a broad range of topics, some of which are directly related to records management and other which might share common themes.
No, we didn’t write these articles—hence the name of this series, “Off the Record”—but, fortunately, we didn’t need to in order to share the knowledge with our subscribers.
The National Archives and Records Administration’s presidential libraries and museums are the repositories for hardcopy, electronic, and audiovisual records of U.S. presidential administrations, as well things that may fall outside the definition of a record, like foreign and domestic presidential gifts and other three-dimensional objects collected during an administration’s tenure. Read on to hear about some of the exhibits on display at some of these depositories this summer!
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum
One upcoming special exhibition at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum looks to answer: what do Albert Einstein, Harpo Marx, and General George S. Patton have in common? Aside from their notable names, they are among the many, many people to write to, send a gift for, or otherwise correspond with Franklin or Eleanor Roosevelt during their exceptional public careers. The exhibit, “Signature Moments,” is a part of the America250 celebration of the semiquincentennial anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The exhibit will include a new film featuring the hundreds of thousands of letters that American citizens wrote to the President and First Lady, which FDR considered the most important records preserved in his Library.
-Erica Wilson-Lang
George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum
Where can you see an 18th century hymnal, a few of Lady Gaga’s wild outfits, and a harmonica of Bob Dylan’s? All these famous items and more will feature in the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum’s exhibit “Music America: Iconic Objects from America’s Music History.” The exhibit, which runs through early January 2026, will have artifacts curated from many institutions, such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the New Orleans Jazz Museum, that tell the story of the United States through the music that shaped the culture and history. Visitors will get a glimpse into the genres and musicians that influenced our nation through their artistry with objects owned by Prince, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, Madonna, and more.
-Erica Wilson-Lang
LBJ Presidential Library
The study of history often challenges us to confront difficult subjects and consider the role America has played on the global stage. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library is currently featuring an exhibit titled “Ain’t No Daylight in Vietnam: March 1968,” which examines a single month during the Vietnam War. The exhibit uses artefacts such as photographs and letters, as well as personal, eye-witness accounts from those who lived through this pivotal month. This exhibit is open through August 10th, 2025. Additionally, visitors can view a newly acquired piece of the LBJ Library’s permanent collection known as Panel 44, a granite slab originally created as part of the well-known Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
-Katherine Hoffman
Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library
You don’t always need to travel to experience the artefacts and records held at a presidential library. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library offers several online exhibits that you can peruse from the comfort of your own home! In particular, fans of archives and cultural history might be interested to view the Eisenhower Library’s virtual exhibit titled “World War II Looted Art: Turning History into Justice.” This exhibit showcases the work of the Monuments, Fine Art, and Archives Program of Allied soldiers, colloquially known as the Monuments Men. These men and women protected museums and cultural sites in Europe during World War II and also recovered priceless artwork and artefacts stolen by German troops. The exhibit shows examples of the artwork that was recovered as well as government records related to various missions of the group.
-Katherine Hoffman
Are you a Texas library, school, courthouse or local government, or other cultural institution interested in hosting a traveling exhibit to celebrate America250? Check out our webpage on the topic and use our online request form to let us know you’re interested!
