Archival Research Room Opens in St. Louis
Press Release · Saturday, June 11, 2005

Washington, DC

"Opening the Door" to the National Archives in St. Louis

St. Louis, MO . . . At 11 AM on Saturday, June 11, 2005, the National Archives National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) in St. Louis will formally open the records of Charles Lindbergh, President John F. Kennedy, General George S. Patton, Steve McQueen, Clark Gable, and Jackie Robinson, among others. Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein will officiate at the ceremony. U.S. Congressman William Lacy Clay and other dignitaries will participate in the opening festivities. Working press is invited to attend. Doors will open for the media and invited guests at 9AM. The National Archives National Personnel Records Center is located 9700 Page Avenue, in suburban north St. Louis County.

For the first time, nearly 1.2 million official military personnel files of former US Navy and Marine Corps enlisted personnel who served between 1885 and 1939 will be open to the public. This first opening also includes 150 "persons of exceptional prominence", including former Presidents, famous military leaders, celebrities, entertainers and professional athletes who served in the military and have been deceased for at least 10 years.

An exhibition focusing on some of these military personnel files will be open for the media, attendees and the public. A display of documents and artifacts recovered from the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor also will be on display at the NPRC. Additionally, the YMCA, Red Cross, Salvation Army and USO will have booths highlighting their support to military personnel for the World War I period and beyond. The public is invited to an open house from noon to 3 PM.

Guided tours of the National Personnel Records Center for the public offers an opportunity to see areas that have never been opened to the public before, including record storage and stack areas, the Preservation Lab and a new archival research room.

The public and the media must present photo identification and allow extra time on arrival to complete security screening. Non-flash photography/video will be allowed in designated areas only.

DIRECTIONS: NPRC is located at 9700 Page Avenue, in suburban north St. Louis County.
- From the North: take I-170 south to Page Avenue. Turn right go approximately 1 mile. 9700 Page will be on the left.
- From the West: Take Page Avenue to 9700 Page. (NPRC is located approximately 4.3 miles east of I-270 on the right).
- From the South: Take I-270 north to Page Avenue. Turn right, go approximately 4.3 miles to 9700 Page (on the right).
- From the East: Take U.S. 40/I-64 west to I-170 north to Page Avenue exit. Turn left, go approximately 1 mile. 9700 Page will be on the left.

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For PRESS information, contact the National Archives Public Affairs Staff at (202) 501-5526. In
St. Louis, contact Bryan McGraw, Director, Archival Programs, NPRC, at (314)801-9132.

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