44 USC 2112 - Presidential archival depository

U.S Code last checked for updates: Apr 19, 2024

§ 2112.

Presidential archival depository

(a)

(1)

When the Archivist considers it to be in the public interest, the Archivist may—

(A)

(i)

accept, for and in the name of the United States, land, a facility, and equipment offered as a gift to the United States for the purpose of creating a Presidential archival depository;

(ii)

take title to the land, facility, and equipment on behalf of the United States; and

(iii)

maintain, operate, and protect the land, facility, and equipment as a Presidential archival depository and as part of the national archives system;

(B)

(i)

make agreements, upon terms and conditions the Archivist considers proper, with a State, political subdivision, university, institution of higher learning, institute, or foundation to use as a Presidential archival depository land, a facility, and equipment of the State, subdivision, university, or other organization, to be made available by it without transfer of title to the United States; and

(ii)

maintain, operate, and protect the depository as a part of the national archives system; and

(C)

accept, for and in the name of the United States, gifts offered for the purpose of making any physical or material change or addition to a Presidential archival depository.

(2)

The Archivist shall promulgate architectural and design standards applicable to Presidential archival depositories in order to ensure that such depositories (A) preserve Presidential records subject to chapter 22 of this title and papers and other historical materials accepted for deposit under section 2111 of this title and (B) contain adequate research facilities.

(3)

Prior to accepting and taking title to any land, facility, or equipment under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1), or prior to entering into any agreement under subparagraph (B) of such paragraph or any other agreement to accept or establish a Presidential archival depository, the Archivist shall submit a written report on the proposed Presidential archival depository to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report shall include—

(A)

a description of the land, facility, and equipment offered as a gift or to be made available without transfer of title;

(B)

a statement specifying the estimated total cost of the proposed depository and the amount of the endowment for the depository required pursuant to subsection (g) of this section;

(C)

a statement of the terms of the proposed agreement, if any;

(D)

a general description of the types of papers, documents, or other historical materials proposed to be deposited in the depository to be created, and of the terms of the proposed deposit;

(E)

a statement of any additional improvements and equipment associated with the development and operation of the depository, an estimate of the costs of such improvements and equipment, and a statement as to the extent to which such costs will be incurred by any Federal or State government agency;

(F)

an estimate of the total annual cost to the United States of maintaining, operating, and protecting the depository; and

(G)

a certification that such facility and equipment (whether offered as a gift or made available without transfer of title) comply with standards promulgated by the Archivist pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection.

(4)

Prior to accepting any gift under subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) for the purpose of making any physical or material change or addition to a Presidential archival depository, or prior to implementing any provision of law requiring the making of such a change or addition, the Archivist shall submit a report in writing on the proposed change or addition to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report shall include—

(A)

a description of such gift;

(B)

a statement specifying the estimated total cost of the proposed physical or material change or addition and the amount of the deposit in an endowment for the depository required pursuant to subsection (g) of this section in order to meet the cost of such change or addition;

(C)

a statement of the purpose of the proposed change or addition and a general description of any papers, documents, or historical materials proposed to be deposited in the depository as a result of such change or addition;

(D)

a statement of any additional improvements or equipment for the depository associated with such change or addition;

(E)

an estimate of the increase in the total annual cost to the United States of maintaining, operating, and protecting the depository that will result from such change or addition; and

(F)

a certification that the depository, and the equipment therein will, after such change or addition, comply with the standards promulgated by the Archivist pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection.

(5)

The Archivist may not—

(A)

accept or take title to land, a facility, or equipment under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1) for the purpose of creating a Presidential archival depository;

(B)

enter into any agreement under subparagraph (B) of such paragraph or any other agreement to accept or establish a Presidential archival depository; or

(C)

accept any gift under subparagraph (C) of such paragraph for the purpose of making any physical or material change to a Presidential archival depository,

until the expiration of a period of 60 days of continuous session of Congress beginning on the date on which the Archivist transmits the report required under paragraph (3) of this subsection with respect to such Presidential archival depository or the report required under paragraph (4) of this subsection with respect to such change or addition, as the case may be.

(b)

When the Archivist considers it to be in the public interest, he may deposit in a Presidential archival depository papers, documents, or other historical materials accepted under section 2111 of this title, or Federal records appropriate for preservation.

(c)

When the Archivist considers it to be in the public interest, he may exercise, with respect to papers, documents, or other historical materials deposited under this section, or otherwise, in a Presidential archival depository, all the functions and responsibilities otherwise vested in him pertaining to Federal records or other documentary materials in his custody or under his control. The Archivist, in negotiating for the deposit of Presidential historical materials, shall take steps to secure to the Government, as far as possible, the right to have continuous and permanent possession of the materials. Papers, documents, or other historical materials accepted and deposited under section 2111 of this title and this section are subject to restrictions as to their availability and use stated in writing by the donors or depositors, including the restriction that they shall be kept in a Presidential archival depository. The restrictions shall be respected for the period stated, or until revoked or terminated by the donors or depositors or by persons legally qualified to act on their behalf. Subject to the restrictions, the Archivist may dispose by sale, exchange, or otherwise, of papers, documents, or other materials which the Archivist determines to have no permanent value or historical interest or to be surplus to the needs of a Presidential archival depository. Only the first two sentences of this subsection shall apply to Presidential records as defined in section 2201(2) of this title.

(d)

When the Archivist considers it to be in the public interest, he may cooperate with and assist a university, institution of higher learning, institute, foundation, or other organization or qualified individual to further or to conduct study or research in historical materials deposited in a Presidential archival depository.

(e)

When the Archivist considers it to be in the public interest, he may charge and collect reasonable fees for the privilege of visiting and viewing exhibit rooms or museum space, or for the occasional, non-official use of rooms and spaces (and services related to such use), in a Presidential archival depository.

(f)

When the Archivist considers it to be in the public interest, he may provide reasonable office space in a Presidential archival depository for the personal use of a former President of the United States.

(g)

(1)

When the Archivist considers it to be in the public interest, the Archivist may solicit and accept gifts or bequests of money or other property for the purpose of maintaining, operating, protecting, or improving a Presidential archival depository. The proceeds of gifts or bequests, together with the proceeds from fees or from sales of historical materials, copies or reproductions, catalogs, or other items, having to do with a Presidential archival depository, shall be paid into an account in the National Archives Trust Fund and shall be held, administered, and expended for the benefit and in the interest of the Presidential archival depository in connection with which they were received, and for the same purposes and objects, including custodial and administrative services for which appropriations for the maintenance, operation, protection, or improvement of Presidential archival depositories might be expended.

(2)

The Archivist shall provide for the establishment in such Trust Fund of separate endowments for the maintenance of the land, facility, and equipment of each Presidential archival depository, to which shall be credited any gifts or bequests received under paragraph (1) that are offered for that purpose. Income to each such endowment shall be available to cover the cost of facility operations, but shall not be available for the performance of archival functions under this title.

(3)

The Archivist shall not accept or take title to any land, facility, or equipment under subparagraph (A) of subsection (a)(1), or enter into any agreement to use any land, facility, or equipment under subparagraph (B) of such subsection for the purpose of creating a Presidential archival depository, unless the Archivist determines that there is available, by gift or bequest for deposit under paragraph (2) of this subsection in an endowment with respect to such depository, an amount for the purpose of maintaining such land, facility, and equipment equal to—

(A)

the product of—

(i)

the total cost of acquiring or constructing such facility and of acquiring and installing such equipment, multiplied by

(ii)

20 percent; plus

(B)

(i)

if title to the land is to be vested in the United States, the product of—

(I)

the total cost of acquiring the land upon which such facility is located, or such other measure of the value of such land as is mutually agreed upon by the Archivist and the donor, multiplied by

(II)

20 percent; or

(ii)

if title to the land is not to be vested in the United States, the product of—

(I)

the total cost to the donor of any improvements to the land upon which such facility is located (other than such facility and equipment), multiplied by

(II)

20 percent; plus

(C)

if the Presidential archival depository will exceed 70,000 square feet in area, an amount equal to the product of—

(i)

the sum of—

(I)

the total cost described in clause (i) of subparagraph (A); plus

(II)

the total cost described in subclause (I) or (II) of subparagraph (B)(i), as the case may be, multiplied by

(ii)

the percentage obtained by dividing the number of square feet by which such depository will exceed 70,000 square feet by 70,000.

(4)

If a proposed physical or material change or addition to a Presidential archival depository would result in an increase in the costs of facility operations, the Archivist may not accept any gift under subparagraph (C) of paragraph (1) for the purpose of making such a change or addition, or may not implement any provision of law requiring the making of such a change or addition, unless the Archivist determines that there is available, by gift or bequest for deposit under paragraph (2) of this subsection in an endowment with respect to such depository, an amount for the purpose of maintaining the land, facility, and equipment of such depository equal to the difference between—

(A)

the amount which, pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subsection, would have been required to have been available for deposit in such endowment with respect to such depository if such change or addition had been included in such depository on—

(i)

the date on which the Archivist took title to the land, facility, and equipment for such depository under subparagraph (A) of subsection (a)(1); or

(ii)

the date on which the Archivist entered into an agreement for the creation of such depository under subparagraph (B) of such paragraph,

as the case may be; minus

(B)

the amount which, pursuant to paragraph (3) of this subsection, was required to be available for deposit in such endowment with respect to such depository on the date the Archivist took such title or entered into such agreement, as the case may be.

(5)

(A)

Notwithstanding paragraphs (3) and (4) (to the extent that such paragraphs are inconsistent with this paragraph), this subsection shall be administered in accordance with this paragraph with respect to any Presidential archival depository created as a depository for the papers, documents, and other historical materials and Presidential records pertaining to any President who takes the oath of office as President for the first time on or after July 1, 2002.

(B)

For purposes of subparagraphs (A)(ii), (B)(i)(II), and (B)(ii)(II) of paragraph (3) the percentage of 60 percent shall apply instead of 20 percent.

(C)

(i)

In this subparagraph, the term “base endowment amount” means the amount of the endowment required under paragraph (3).

(ii)

(I)

The Archivist may give credits against the base endowment amount if the Archivist determines that the proposed Presidential archival depository will have construction features or equipment that are expected to result in quantifiable long-term savings to the Government with respect to the cost of facility operations.

(II)

The features and equipment described under subclause (I) shall comply with the standards promulgated by the Archivist under subsection (a)(2).

(III)

The Archivist shall promulgate standards to be used in calculating the dollar amount of any credit to be given, and shall consult with all donors of the endowment before giving any credits. The total dollar amount of credits given under this paragraph may not exceed 20 percent of the base endowment amount.

(D)

(i)

In calculating the additional endowment amount required under paragraph (4), the Archivist shall take into account credits given under subparagraph (C), and may also give credits against the additional endowment amount required under paragraph (4), if the Archivist determines that construction features or equipment used in making or equipping the physical or material change or addition are expected to result in quantifiable long-term savings to the Government with respect to the cost of facility operations.

(ii)

The features and equipment described under clause (i) shall comply with the standards promulgated by the Archivist under subsection (a)(2).

(iii)

(Pub. L. 90–620, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1289, § 2108; Pub. L. 94–575, § 4(a), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2727; Pub. L. 95–591, § 2(b)(3), Nov. 4, 1978, 92 Stat. 2528; renumbered § 2112 and amended Pub. L. 98–497, title I, §§ 102(a)(1), 107(a)(6), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2280, 2286; Pub. L. 99–323, § 3, May 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 495; Pub. L. 108–7, div. J, title V, § 513, Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 462; Pub. L. 108–383, § 4(a), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2218; Pub. L. 110–404, § 6(b), Oct. 13, 2008, 122 Stat. 4285.)

cite as: 44 USC 2112