The Presidential Papers of Ramon Magsaysay: A Plan for their Organization and Development

Researcher: PAT I. NIVERA

Course: Master of Library Science

School: University of the Philippines, Quezon City

Subject Area: Library Development Plan

Year of Graduation: 1971

Abstract

The records created by and for the President of the Philippines, better known as his Papers, reflect much of his own actuations, the state of the country at a given period and the nation’s international position. As such, they are valuable sources for the writing of political, socio-economic or diplomatic history, and biographies, for the documentation of events or for training the course of public administration and government machinery. To date, ten men have occupied the position of President of the Philippines, but the Papers of only three (Emilio Aguinaldo, Manuel L. Quezon and Jose P. Laurel), have so far received some measure of care and preservation.

This thesis lays out a plan for the organization, administration and development of the Papers of the late President Ramon Magsaysay which have been placed in the custody of the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation, and their subsequent opening to research. The processing of the Papers and the construction of finding aids such as a card catalog, an index and a guide to the Papers are extremely discussed. A brief history of the Papers and an outline of the organization of the Office of the President of the Philippines are presented the better to understand the nature and contents of the Papers. It expresses a hope that the plan will serve as a model for the preservation of other Presidential Papers and recommends legislation for this process because the Presidential Papers form a part of our national heritage.

Source: Journal of Philippine Librarianship (4: 157) 1971