Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
The papers of William H. Taft, president of the United States and chief justice of the Supreme Court, were deposited in the Library of Congress by Taft in 1919-1929 and converted to a gift by his heirs in 1952. Additions were received through gift and purchase between 1952 and 2018.
Processing History
The William H. Taft Papers were arranged, indexed, and microfilmed in 1972. Additions were processed in 1980, 1984, and 1996. In 2009 the finding aid was expanded by including description of the main collection from the published index. In 2014, Part D of the Addition was processed and the finding aid revised. In 2019, a letter was added as Part E and the finding aid revised.
Transfers
Blueprints, cartoons, photographs, photographic plates, and sketches were transferred to the Library's Prints and Photographs Division and maps and charts to the Geography and Map Division where they are identified as part of these papers. These items were filmed prior to transfer and are part of the microfilm edition of the papers. Additionally, some memorabilia was transferred to the Smithsonian Institution.
Microfilm
A microfilm edition of part of these papers is available on 658 reels. Consult reference staff in the Manuscript Division concerning availability for purchase or interlibrary loan. To promote preservation of the originals, researchers are required to consult the microfilm edition as available.
Online Content
The William Howard Taft Papers are available on the Library of Congress Web site at https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/collmss.ms000101. To promote preservation of the originals, researchers are required to consult the online edition as available.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Container or reel number, William H. Taft Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.