“A fine institution.” That’s how President Dwight D. Eisenhower described a public library in a handwritten letter. Though it was the Utica Public Library not the Dwight D Eisenhower Public Library we stand before today.
The Presidential Library system is composed of sixteen Presidential Libraries. These facilities are overseen by the Office of Presidential Libraries. Presidential Libraries bring together the documents and artifacts of a President and his administration. They present them to the public for study and discussion. This is done without regard for political considerations or affiliations.
The Dwight D Eisenhower Public Library preserves the legacy of a remarkable leader. Eisenhower served as a General and President. His life spanned pivotal historical epochs. These include the extension of American power the collapse of European hegemony and the Cold War.
Here at the Dwight D Eisenhower Public Library you can explore exhibits. These exhibits use artifacts documents photographs and film. They immerse you in the sights and sounds of the past. They introduce you to the people places and events that shaped Eisenhower’s life.
The Eisenhower Presidential Library holds a substantial collection of photographic prints. This collection offers a primary documentary resource relating to the life and times of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Most photographic materials were received as part of manuscript collections. They are arranged and identified by the name of the donor.
The still photograph collection documenting the World War II period consists primarily of U.S. Army Signal Corps photographs. Most of the photographs documenting the presidential years were taken by the National Park Service or the U.S. Naval Photographic Center.
Requests for photographs can be made via eisenhower.library@nara.gov. You can also call the Library at 785-263-6700. The majority of the images are in the public domain. Copyrighted images will be annotated and are restricted to online viewing only.
The Eisenhower Center advances the legacy of Dwight D. Eisenhower for public service civic leadership and public education. The Center supports the University of New Orleans’s mission of research education and public service. This is focused on the development of a democratic pluralistic productive society shaped in part by the nation’s wars.
Take a moment to reflect on the values Eisenhower embodied. He stood for public service civic leadership and public education. As you leave the Dwight D Eisenhower Public Library consider how you might contribute to these ideals in your own life.