Overview
Introduction
The Rockefeller Archive Center (RAC) was established in 1974 as the result of efforts by the children of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. to gather in one institution the records of their family’s philanthropic work and to stimulate research into the ways in which these philanthropic efforts had impacted the nation and the world. Since that time, the Archive Center has grown substantially, so that it now holds the archives of a large and growing number of philanthropic institutions, including the Ford Foundation, the Knight Foundation, the Hewlett Foundation, and many other foundations and civil society organizations, as well as the papers of individuals associated with these organizations.
In the RAC’s collections, researchers from all over the world can explore topics ranging from the history of medicine, science, and public health to such fields as the arts, agriculture, social sciences, urban affairs, and public policy. The RAC’s stipend program provides support for those who need to travel to the Archive Center for their research, while its rich online resources engage even larger global communities. In addition, the RAC regularly convenes conferences, workshops and other gatherings to bring diverse communities together to discuss significant issues related to its collections.
Collections
The RAC’s collections contain the records of a wide range of institutions dedicated to the public good, as well as the papers of individuals associated with these institutions.
Most of the records in the RAC’s collections come from foundations and other institutions that remain active in the public sphere, including:
- American Society of International Law
- Asia Society
- Asian Cultural Council
- China Medical Board, Inc.
- Commonwealth Fund
- Downtown-Lower Manhattan Association, Inc.
- Ford Foundation
- Foundation Center (now part of Candid)
- Foundation for Child Development
- Henry Luce Foundation
- Institute for Citizens and Scholars (formerly the Woodrow Wilson National Foundation)
- Institute of International Education
- International Society for Third-Sector Research
- James S. and John L. Knight Foundation
- John A. Hartford Foundation
- Markle Foundation
- National Committee on United States-China Relations
- Near East Foundation
- Population Council
- Rockefeller Brothers Fund
- Rockefeller Foundation
- Russell Sage Foundation
- Social Science Research Council
- Trilateral Commission
- William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
- William T. Grant Foundation
The collections also contain the records of important organizations that are no longer in existence, such as:
- Agricultural Development Council
- American Conservation Association
- American International Association for Economic and Social Development
- Arts, Education and Americans Panel
- Bureau of Social Hygiene
- General Education Board
- Health Research Fund
- International Basic Economy Corporation
- International Education Board
- Jackson Hole Preserve, Inc.
- JDR 3rd Fund
- Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial
- Lucille P. Markey Charitable Trust
- Martha Baird Rockefeller Fund for Music
- Rockefeller Sanitary Commission
- Sealantic Fund
- Spelman Fund of New York Taconic Foundation
In addition, the RAC holds the papers of Rockefeller family members as well as the papers of individuals associated with the organizations in our collections. Some examples include:
- Claude H. Barlow Papers
- Jackson Davis Papers
- Paul Ehrlich Papers
- Frederick T. Gates Papers
- Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Papers
- David Rockefeller Papers
- John D. Rockefeller Papers
- John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Papers
- John D. Rockefeller 3rd Papers
- Laurance S. Rockefeller Papers
- Nelson A. Rockefeller Papers
- Office of the Messrs. Rockefeller
- William Rockefeller Papers
- Winthrop Rockefeller Papers
- Francis X. Sutton Papers
- Hao Wang Papers
- Warren Weaver Papers
- William H. Whyte Papers
- Malcolm Wilson Papers