# AC589 FDC - 8/4/2005, USA, Postcard, The Birthplace of Herbert Hoover
Postcard Honors Herbert Hoover's Presidential Library
On August 4, 2005, the US Postal Service issued the Presidential Libraries stamp. This postcard was postmarked at the Herbert Hoover Library and Museum in West Branch, Iowa, on the First Day of Issue of the stamp. The postcard pictures Hoover's brithplace and is a fitting reminder of this President and the presidential library that now holds his papers.
Presidential Libraries Act Passed
Prior to this, presidential papers were seen as the president’s personal property. Most presidents took their papers with them after they left office. Some of these were destroyed, sold, or split up between multiple people.
It wasn’t until Franklin Roosevelt was president that these practices began to change. Roosevelt believed that presidential papers were part of the national heritage and should be open to the public. In 1939, Roosevelt bequeathed his papers to the government and donated part of his Hyde Park, New York, estate for a library.
Franklin’s successor, Harry S. Truman, saw the value in his idea for a presidential library and in 1950 decided that he would build one of his own. He tasked one of his assistants to work with the archivist of the United States on arranging the transfer of his papers to the government. They worked together to draft the Federal Records Act, which gave the government permission to accept presidential records. However, shortly after the act was passed in 1950, it revealed several problems. It didn’t protect Truman’s papers from unauthorized access and it didn’t allow the government to accept land and a building for the library.
Postcard Honors Herbert Hoover's Presidential Library
On August 4, 2005, the US Postal Service issued the Presidential Libraries stamp. This postcard was postmarked at the Herbert Hoover Library and Museum in West Branch, Iowa, on the First Day of Issue of the stamp. The postcard pictures Hoover's brithplace and is a fitting reminder of this President and the presidential library that now holds his papers.
Presidential Libraries Act Passed
Prior to this, presidential papers were seen as the president’s personal property. Most presidents took their papers with them after they left office. Some of these were destroyed, sold, or split up between multiple people.
It wasn’t until Franklin Roosevelt was president that these practices began to change. Roosevelt believed that presidential papers were part of the national heritage and should be open to the public. In 1939, Roosevelt bequeathed his papers to the government and donated part of his Hyde Park, New York, estate for a library.
Franklin’s successor, Harry S. Truman, saw the value in his idea for a presidential library and in 1950 decided that he would build one of his own. He tasked one of his assistants to work with the archivist of the United States on arranging the transfer of his papers to the government. They worked together to draft the Federal Records Act, which gave the government permission to accept presidential records. However, shortly after the act was passed in 1950, it revealed several problems. It didn’t protect Truman’s papers from unauthorized access and it didn’t allow the government to accept land and a building for the library.