George C. Marshall Foundation, Research library at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, United States
The George C. Marshall Foundation is a research library in Lexington, Virginia, focused on American military and diplomatic history. It holds a large collection of manuscripts, documents, maps, and photographs that researchers can consult on site.
The foundation was established in 1953 to safeguard the personal papers of General Marshall, who served as Army Chief of Staff and later as Secretary of State. Over the years, the holdings grew well beyond his own papers to include materials from many other figures of the same era.
The collection holds wartime posters, photographs, and recorded interviews with veterans that show how ordinary people experienced the events of World War II. These materials give visitors a direct window into daily life during the war years.
The collections are open to researchers and curious visitors, and it is a good idea to get in touch before your visit to find out which materials are available for your area of interest. The library is located on the campus of the Virginia Military Institute, which makes it easy to combine with a walk around the grounds.
The foundation holds the papers of William and Elizebeth Friedman, two pioneers in the field of code-breaking who worked on secret communications during World War II. Much of their work was classified for decades and only became available to the public long after their deaths.
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