In advance of the arrival of President Nixon’s White House materials, preparations are underway at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace to house the millions of textual documents, audio-visual materials and gifts of state.
The Yorba Linda institution dedicated to the life and legacy of the 37th President will be inducted into the national system of Presidential libraries administrated by the National Archives and Records Administration this summer.  NARA is the federal agency responsible for maintaining and administering access to Presidential papers.

Work has begun on the first phase of preparations, the refurbishing of the Katherine B. Loker Center lower level with shelving, temperature control, security and lighting as required by NARA.

The second phase will be the refurbishing of offices to house NARA archival personnel.

Eventually, the Yorba Linda Library will be the home of more than 46 million of President Nixon’s White House documents, as well as 350,000 photographs, 4,000 videotapes,  2.2 million feet of film, 5,000 recordings and 3,000 gifts including many considered priceless from Heads-of-State. The materials will join the Library’s existing collection of RN’s pre and post-Presidential papers and will arrive in stages through 2010.

The $2.5 million contract, funded by the Nixon Library,  was awarded to Perera Construction of Ontario and is expected to be completed in October.

Photo: Cutting concrete to make way for shelving