In response to Executive Order 14176, a significant effort is underway to provide public access to the extensive John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection. This collection, comprising over six million pages of documents, photographs, films, audio recordings, and artifacts, offers an unparalleled resource for understanding a pivotal moment in American history. This online portal serves as a central hub for accessing already released materials and will continue to grow as more documents become available to the public.
Executive Order 14176: Mandate for Transparency
Presidential Directive for Record Declassification
Executive Order 14176, officially titled “Declassification of Records Concerning the Assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” was signed on January 23, 2025. This decisive action underscores the national commitment to transparency, declaring “it is in the national interest to finally release all records related to these assassinations without delay.” The full text of Executive Order 14176 provides further details on this important initiative.
The National Archives’ Central Role
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the designated custodian of the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection. In this capacity, NARA plays a vital role in ensuring these historically significant documents are accessible to the American people. Every record within the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection is slated to be made available online, facilitating broad public access. It is important to note that while NARA manages the collection and its accessibility, the authority to declassify specific documents rests with the relevant agencies within the Executive Branch, with whom NARA collaborates closely to implement the President’s release determinations.
Facilitating Public Access to JFK Records
The National Archives is actively prepared to process and publish declassification decisions from both presidential directives and actions from other United States Government agencies. As these decisions are made and documents are digitized, the National Archives will promptly upload the records to this dedicated webpage. This commitment to a rolling release ensures that the public gains access to new materials as efficiently as possible.
Vast Majority of JFK Assassination Records Already Public
It is important to recognize that the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection is not composed of entirely new discoveries. In fact, the overwhelming majority of this extensive collection, encompassing over six million pages, has already been declassified and is currently accessible to the public, either through online platforms or in-person research facilities. Since 2023, the National Archives has been engaged in a comprehensive project to digitize all records within the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection. This digitization effort has been further prioritized following Executive Order 14176 to expedite online availability. For records not yet digitized, researchers can still access them in person at the National Archives at College Park. Detailed information for planning a research visit can be found on the Plan Your Research Visit page.
Explore Previous Releases of JFK Assassination Documents
To provide a clear record of recent disclosures, links to previous releases of John F. Kennedy assassination records are provided below. For detailed information regarding agency postponements related to these releases, please refer to the agency postponement documentation.
2023 Document Release
2022 Document Release
2021 Document Release
2017-2018 Document Release
Discover What’s Available Online Now
The National Archives is continuously digitizing records from the JFK Assassination Records Collection and making them accessible online as they become available. For the most current inventory of digitized materials, please visit What is Currently Available Online. This page provides an updated list of records from the JFK Assassination Records Collection that are currently accessible through the National Archives Catalog.
Frequently Asked Questions and Resources on JFK Assassination
For immediate answers to common queries and to access additional resources related to the collection, please consult the following pages:
Frequently Asked Questions about JFK Records
Press Releases related to JFK Records
Contribute to History: JFK Assassination Records Transcription
You can actively participate in making these historical records more accessible. Many documents from the collection are ready for transcription as part of our Citizen Archivist Missions. To learn how to contribute, please visit the Citizen Archivist Missions page. Your transcription efforts directly enhance the searchability and accessibility of these important historical documents.
Contact Us for JFK Records Inquiries
Reference Inquiries
For general reference questions regarding the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection, please contact us via email: [email protected].
Media Inquiries
For media-related questions, please direct your inquiries to: [email protected].
Image Credit: Detail of portrait of John F. Kennedy, White House Historical Association/White House Collection. Used with permission.
