I contacted the Jimmy Carter Library in advance of my visit by the form available on their website. The research room director responded with some information about their holdings which became clearer on-site, as well as with a list of local housing options.
From Geneva I checked the National Archives and Records Administration Archival Research Catalog (ARC), limiting all results (possible under “Search Options”) to the Jimmy Carter Library, for relevant records – the order in which they were returned did not make much sense to me at the time. Upon arriving the research room director ran a search for me, one which was classified by series and thus gave a better idea of the hierarchy of files – to those heading to a NARA archive I would recommend sorting your catalog search results by “Hierarchy” – knowing the record group certainly helps in a first sorting of which sources might be useful and which will likely not be so useful.
A source which is not noted on the Jimmy Carter Library website, but which was extremely valuable, was their CREST database (housed on an in-room computer, not accessible remotely). The CREST database mostly houses once-sensitive documents which have been reviewed and either declassified or sanitized (redacted). The advantage – and disadvantage – of all things digitized is that it is key-word searchable. This works well if you are looking for person names or agency names. However, if you have a less concrete subject, you will likely want to run the search several times, with varying key words, in order to best cover all your bases. As in real life, official titles or names were not always used in cabled correspondence, meaning a thorough search of the CREST database takes some good detective work. The CREST database documents each have unique identifying numbers which can be deconstructed, leading you back to potential files of interest – it can serve as another search tool.
Once on site, you also have the possibility to consult extensive finding aids for their series mentioned online, such as the White House Central Files, or the files of the First Lady’s Office. While the row of binders certainly looks daunting, they are actually a bit wanting in information – often the descriptions are vague, the type with official department titles but little indication of the content – that it serves the researcher best to order any box which might look interesting for their research.
In order to access the archive, I had to fill out a contact form and provide identification (a passport suffices). This in turn permitted me to receive a researcher card, valid at the Carter library for one year.
Prior to entering the archive, researchers are given keys to lockers just outside the reading room for all bags, coats, and nonessentials. Upon entering, researchers have to sign in and present any paper they wish to bring in (or when exiting, what they wish to bring out) to the research room supervisor in order to ensure documents are not being added or pilfered. There are no set pull times for files – one fills out a short request form, and usually in less than five minutes they are available for consultation.
The reading room itself is well stocked with reference works for the period of the Carter presidency, as well as the latest volumes concentrating on the Carter presidency. In addition to the document finding aids, there are extensive finding aids for audio and visual material (generally these results are available on the ARC catalog as well).
Researchers are permitted to photograph all documents (without flash, of course), as well as make copies (or print copies if they are in the CREST database). Copies, however, are fee-bearing.
In terms of accessing documents, as the Carter presidency was less than 30 years ago, there are still lots of documents which are classified. Even some that have passed the 30 year limit are still classified, due to too few staff to review such material. Therefore, I would recommend if the Carter archives were to be consulted for a major work (like a dissertation) in the next few years, that a minimum of two visits be planned - a first one to survey and examine what is already available, and a second one at least three or four months later, in case any access reviews or FOIAs need to be ordered.
The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library is part of the Carter Center complex, which in turn was formerly the Augustus Hurt Plantation.
In addition to the offices of the Carter Center and the archives, the property houses an actual library, a public museum, and a gift shop. There is a cafeteria (adorned with photos of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter feasting all around the world) where researchers are entitled to a complete lunch for $4 (open 11am to 3pm). Between the archives and the museum/gift shop/cafeteria entrance is a small rose garden which is nice on a clear day.
Overall, the Carter archive was very welcoming to researchers, from the receptionist to the multitude of research room staff. A plus for those planning to spend multiple days there is that their chairs are superbly ergonomic! I look forward to returning sometime in the near future.
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