Press Releases

Boston MA – The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum is closing immediately and until further notice after learning that two employees attended a conference at the Row Hotel in Somerville, MA last week where other attendees were confirmed to have come down with the coronavirus. Neither of the Library employees have shown symptoms and both are in self-quarantine. While neither of our employees have shown symptoms and the risk of transmission is low, we are notifying the public out of an abundance of caution. If you have visited the Library between March 5 and March 11, please monitor your health for symptoms of coronavirus, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. If you experience symptoms, please seek medical care. The Library has been working with state public health officials to ensure all proper health measures are taken.

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum will offer several family-oriented activities and programs throughout Presidents’ Day week, including its signature Presidents’ Day Family Festival on February 17 featuring presidential storytelling, activities and performances. In honor of the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the Festival will highlight presentations by actors portraying Sojourner Truth and Lucretia Mott. A Celebrate! series presentation of Tales from African Traditions by Valerie Tutson will take place on February 19, and family-friendly Highlights Tours will be offered throughout the week.

Washington State Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib will receive the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award for his work on progressive issues for his constituents, including sponsoring bills that would guarantee paid sick leave for almost all workers and the Washington Voting Rights Act, which would prevent racially polarized voting systems. As Lieutenant Governor, he has made expanding access to higher education and economic opportunity the centerpiece of his office’s work. Freedom for Immigrants founders Christina Mansfield and Christina Fialho will also be honored with the New Frontier Award for their tireless efforts advocating for immigrants rights and protections.

Boston, Mass – The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation today announced that after a three-year tenure marked by record fundraising, successful high-profile events including President Kennedy’s Centennial and the recent 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Steven M. Rothstein has decided to step down from his position as executive director of the Foundation at the end of the year. Deputy Director Rachel Flor was chosen by the Foundation’s Board to be the new executive director. She will begin transitioning into the role in November to assume full responsibilities in January 2020.  

Boston MA – The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library today announced the release of JFK Moonshot, an immersive, augmented reality experience that celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first Moon landing and President Kennedy’s vision that launched the effort. Created by Digitas, The Connected Marketing Agency, and sponsored by Raytheon, JFK Moonshot features the first-ever full-scale augmented reality simulation of the Saturn V Rocket launch and will take users on the five-day journey from the Earth to the Moon.

Boston MA – In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing and President Kennedy’s vision that launched the effort, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, with Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, today announced that Apollo 11 Lunar Command Module pilot Michael Collins and Blue Origin Founder Jeff Bezos will take part in a daylong symposium on June 19at the JFK Library. The JFK Space Summit will highlight the history that led to the first Moon landing, current scientific and technological space initiatives, and the future of space exploration. 

Boston MA – The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation today announced that U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will receive the 2019 Profile in Courage Award. She will be recognized for putting the national interest above her party's interest to expand access to health care for all Americans and then, against a wave of political attacks, leading the effort to retake the majority and elect the most diverse Congress in our nation's history.

NEW YORK, NY—Critically-acclaimed debut author Tommy Orangeis the winner of the 2019 PEN/Hemingway Award for his novelThere There (Knopf), PEN America announced today. Honoring a distinguished first novel, Tommy Orange will receive $25,000 underwritten by the Hemingway Family and the Hemingway Foundation, as well as a month-long Residency Fellowship at the Ucross Foundation in Wyoming, a retreat for artists and writers, valued at $10,000.

BOSTON, Mass., (Feb. 6, 2019) -- President John F. Kennedy established a vision of technical achievement and jump started decades of scientific advancement unprecedented in our nation’s history with these words. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation today announced that Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) has provided $1.5 million for educational initiatives.

Boston, MA – March For Our Lives organizers Edna Chavez, Ryan Deitsch, David Hogg, and Tyah Robertswill receive the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award for their work to galvanize support and drive public advocacy for substantive changes to gun safety laws following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Stockton, California Mayor Michael Tubbs, the youngest mayor ever to lead a city of more than 100,000 residents, will also be honored with the New Frontier Award for his innovative efforts to increase college enrollment and graduation rates, alleviate poverty, and reduce violence in the city. The awards will be presented by Jack Schlossberg, President Kennedy’s grandson, during a ceremony on February 8 at 6:00pm at the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School.

BOSTON, MA: On Wednesday, December 5, the museum at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library will offer free admission to visitors in honor of President George H.W. Bush. Research rooms at the National Archives nationwide, including the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, will be closed and the Rodgers and Hammerstein Forum scheduled for 6:00pm on December 5 will be rescheduled due to the national day of mourning in honor of President Bush. Condolence books will be available for visitors to sign and leave reflections.

RICHMOND, VA - The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation launched the verified @JohnFKennedy Twitter handle today to introduce the late president’s iconic ideas and messages to a new generation. The activation of @JohnFKennedy on Twitter kicks off the Foundation’s “Words Count” campaign, created by The Martin Agency in Richmond, VA. 

Today, the National Archives and Records Administration announced the appointment of Alan Price as the Director of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, effective November 13, 2018. For the past year, Mr. Price was President of Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana.  He led the expansion of partnerships between the college and local community organizations and established a new strategic vision to modernize and expand the Joseph Moore Museum (of natural history). 

BOSTON, MA: The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum today announced that it has made available for research 879 boxes of archival material from the Edward M. Kennedy Senate Files. This initial release documents Senator Kennedy’s early years in office and shows him focused on learning about the inner workings of Congress and how best to assist constituents in Massachusetts.

BOSTON, MA: The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum has completed a year-long effort to make available online approximately 1,700 vulnerable nitrate negative photographs from its Kennedy Family Collection. The photographs provide a unique glimpse of the Kennedy Family from before President Kennedy’s birth through the early 1950s.