Rockefeller Archive Center

Rockefeller Archive Center. The Rockefeller family established the Rockefeller Archive Center in 1965 to collect, preserve, and make accessible the records of the Rockefeller Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and other Rockefeller-related organizations, such as the General Education Board and the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial. The center's holdings also include the personal papers of John D. Rockefeller, John D. Rockefeller Jr., John D. Rockefeller III, Nelson Rockefeller, and David Rockefeller, among others, providing valuable insights into the lives and activities of these prominent Rockefeller family members, including their involvement with institutions like Harvard University, Yale University, and the University of Chicago. The center's archives are used by researchers from institutions such as the National Archives and Records Administration, Library of Congress, and the New York Public Library.

● History

The Rockefeller Archive Center was founded by John D. Rockefeller Jr. and John D. Rockefeller III in 1965 to promote the understanding of the Rockefeller family's history and its philanthropic efforts, which have been recognized by organizations such as the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Ford Foundation. The center's early years were marked by the acquisition of records from the Rockefeller Foundation, which was established by John D. Rockefeller in 1913 with the help of Frederick Gates and Charles W. Eliot, the former president of Harvard University. The center has also collected records from other Rockefeller-related organizations, including the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, which was established by John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s sons, John D. Rockefeller III, Nelson Rockefeller, Laurance Rockefeller, Winthrop Rockefeller, and David Rockefeller, who were all involved with institutions like the Council on Foreign Relations and the Trilateral Commission. Researchers from universities such as Columbia University, Stanford University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have used the center's archives to study the history of the Rockefeller family and its philanthropic activities, which have been supported by organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Open Society Foundations.

● Collections

The Rockefeller Archive Center's collections include the records of the Rockefeller Foundation, which have been used by researchers from institutions such as the World Health Organization, United Nations, and the National Institutes of Health to study the history of public health, medicine, and science, including the work of scientists like Louis Pasteur, Robert Koch, and Jonas Salk. The center's holdings also include the personal papers of John D. Rockefeller, John D. Rockefeller Jr., and other members of the Rockefeller family, which provide insights into their business activities, including their involvement with companies like Standard Oil, ExxonMobil, and Chase Bank, as well as their philanthropic efforts, which have been recognized by organizations like the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. The center's collections also include records from other organizations, such as the General Education Board and the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial, which were established by John D. Rockefeller and John D. Rockefeller Jr. to support education and social welfare initiatives, including those promoted by institutions like the National Education Association and the American Association of University Women. Researchers from universities such as University of California, Berkeley, University of Michigan, and Duke University have used the center's archives to study the history of education, social welfare, and philanthropy, including the work of organizations like the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Ford Foundation.

● Mission and Activities

The Rockefeller Archive Center's mission is to collect, preserve, and make accessible the records of the Rockefeller family and its philanthropic organizations, such as the Rockefeller Foundation and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, which have supported initiatives like the Green Revolution and the Global Health Initiative. The center's activities include the acquisition and processing of archival records, the provision of research services to scholars and researchers from institutions like the Brookings Institution and the Council on Foreign Relations, and the promotion of the study of the Rockefeller family's history and philanthropic efforts, which have been recognized by organizations like the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The center also collaborates with other archives and research institutions, such as the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration, to advance the study of philanthropy, business, and social history, including the work of individuals like Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford, and Bill Gates. The center's research services are used by scholars from universities such as University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Sorbonne University, who study the history of philanthropy, business, and social welfare, including the activities of organizations like the Red Cross and the United Nations Children's Fund.

● Facilities and Services

The Rockefeller Archive Center is located in Sleepy Hollow, New York, and its facilities include a research room, a library, and a conservation laboratory, which are used by researchers from institutions like the New York Public Library and the Morgan Library & Museum. The center's research room is open to scholars and researchers from institutions like the University of London and the University of Tokyo, who can access the center's archival records and library materials, including books and articles published by Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, and Harvard University Press. The center's conservation laboratory provides preservation and conservation services for the center's archival records, which are also used by researchers from institutions like the National Gallery of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The center's library includes a collection of books and articles on the history of the Rockefeller family and its philanthropic organizations, as well as on topics related to business, social welfare, and philanthropy, including the work of organizations like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

● Governance and Funding

The Rockefeller Archive Center is governed by a board of trustees, which includes members of the Rockefeller family and other individuals with expertise in archives, history, and philanthropy, such as David Rockefeller and Sharon Percy Rockefeller. The center is funded by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, as well as by other organizations and individuals, including the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The center's funding is also supported by grants from organizations like the Ford Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, which have recognized the center's importance as a research institution and its contributions to the study of philanthropy, business, and social history, including the work of individuals like John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie. The center's governance and funding structure allows it to maintain its independence and to pursue its mission of promoting the study of the Rockefeller family's history and philanthropic efforts, which have been supported by organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Open Society Foundations. Category:Archives in the United States