Rockefeller Archive Center RAC

Overview

The Rockefeller Archive Center (RAC) is an independent foundation and major archival repository located in Sleepy Hollow, Westchester County, New York. It is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and providing access to historical records documenting philanthropy and efforts for the public good. The RAC is widely regarded as the premier research facility for the history of American and international philanthropy.

History and Founding

The Rockefeller Archive Center was established in 1974 through the initiative of the children of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.—including David, Nelson, John D. III, Laurence, Winthrop, and Abby—to consolidate the Rockefeller family's dispersed philanthropic records into a single institution. Founding partners were the Rockefeller Foundation, Rockefeller University (which initially administered the Center until 2008), and the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, which donated Hillcrest—the former home of Martha Baird Rockefeller in Sleepy Hollow—along with $6.5 million toward an endowment and renovation funds. The Center opened its doors in 1975. In 2008, it became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation separate from Rockefeller University.

Collections and Holdings

The RAC holds the records of over 40 organisations and the papers of more than 100 individuals. Core collections include the Rockefeller Foundation (est. 1913), Rockefeller Brothers Fund, General Education Board, and Rockefeller Sanitary Commission, alongside the papers of John D. Rockefeller, John D. Rockefeller Jr., David Rockefeller, and Nelson Rockefeller. Beyond Rockefeller family materials, the RAC has expanded its collecting scope to include major non-Rockefeller foundations: the Ford Foundation, Knight Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, Henry Luce Foundation, Commonwealth Fund, Russell Sage Foundation, Asia Society, Trilateral Commission, and many others. Collections document themes including public health, medical research, scientific advancement, education, agriculture, arts and humanities, social sciences, urban development, and public policy. Records of Nelson Rockefeller include approximately 3,247 cubic feet of papers. The Rockefeller family records contain items dating to 1857.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism and Media

The RAC holds the archives of the Henry Luce Foundation, established by the founder of Time Inc. and closely associated with the history of American journalism. Knight Foundation records—transferred in April 2021 and spanning 1950–2012—document decades of journalism support, including the Knight Chairs in Journalism programme that placed practising journalists at 23 universities. Ford Foundation records also contain significant materials relating to media and communications philanthropy.

Access and Usage

The RAC supports independent scholarship through generally broad and open access to its collections. The reading room is open Monday–Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Over 400 researchers from around the world visit annually, and archivists respond to approximately 2,000 email reference requests per year. A competitive grant programme funds graduate students, faculty, and independent scholars for on-site research visits. Collections are catalogued in DIMES, the RAC's online catalog. With a budget of approximately $9.4 million and an endowment of $160 million, the RAC employs about 47 staff.