This series contains typed letters both by Gerald Ford and individuals at Elon College who helped arrange his visit during February of 1986. Beginning in 1985, Gerald Ford was corresponding with Ms. Shane E. Jones (SGA President) and President Young in order to finalize a date for his arrival in Elon, as well as transportation and housing arrangements (1:1). Also, during 1985 President Young corresponded with other individuals at Elon (after Ford’s confirmation of visiting Elon) asking various questions and trying to finalize the details involved with Gerald Ford’s upcoming visit in February 1986 (1:2). The remaining letters in this series discuss various arrangements to be made in preparation of Ford’s visit with facilities management, TV Services, outside newspaper reporters, and security (1:3-1:5).

This is one of the smallest series in the collection. It only contains the “blue print” of the Elon College Alumni Gymnasium floor plan and balcony seating areas. This diagram was drawn specifically for Ford’s visit to Elon College in February of 1986. On the back of one of the papers are handwritten notes, possibly taken during Gerald Ford’s speech (2:1). The “blue prints” show a simple visual structure of the layout of the Alumni Gymnasium.

Financial documents is another one of the smaller series and only contains two invoices. The invoices include expenses charged to Elon College regarding the production of black and white transparencies and photographs, as well as color transparencies of Gerald Ford’s visit to Elon in 1986. All of the invoices are from Diane L. McNeill with Omni Studio in Burlington, NC (3:1).

This series contains three papers of the same list that includes the names of local newspapers, TV stations, and reporters that were responsible for covering the Ford press conference. There is only one paper that has handwritten notes and additional news organizations and reporters listed (4:1). None of the names on these lists are documented in the “Container List” of this finding aid. However, most of the news organizations are from the local Triad and Triangle areas in North Carolina.

Literary productions is yet another small series in this collection that contains drafts of introductory speeches written by President Fred Young, preparing to formally introduce Gerald Ford. The three drafts in this series offer a general idea of what President Young said during the final introduction of Gerald Ford, even though the finalized version of the introductory speech cannot be located (5:1).

Although it is such a small series, it contains a large amount of photographs. This series is divided up into two categories of photographs including those only of Gerald Ford (6:1) and those taken of other individuals (6:2) involved in events that took place during Ford’s visit to Elon College. The photographs only of Gerald Ford include both black and white, as well as color prints. Primarily, the photographs are taken of Ford standing behind the podium where he delivered his speech and participated in a press conference (6:1).

Moreover, the photographs of various individuals that participated in events that took place while Gerald Ford visited Elon are primarily color prints, with one black and white print included (6:2). Most of the individuals pictured are unidentified. The photographs are presented in strips that are pasted to a piece of cardboard (in the similar fashion that negatives appear in a strip of plastic). These photographs are organized in numeric order according to the roll and sheet number written at the bottom of each cardboard backing (6:2).

This is the largest series in the collection, containing a variety of printed materials that are arranged chronologically within each folder. The majority of the items that make up this series are newspaper clippings pertaining to the visit Gerald Ford made to Elon College in February of 1986. Elon College’s Public Information Office composed a brief announcement that included information about when Gerald Ford was coming to Elon, who was sponsoring his visit, basic biographical information about Ford, and where Elon College is located (7:1). For additional biographical information about Gerald Ford, please refer to the papers titled “Biographical Information” located in the miscellaneous folder (7:3). Of particular historical interest, the miscellaneous folder also contains a paper that outlines the basic facts of Elon College during 1985-86 (7:3).

As mentioned above, the majority of the items in this series are newspaper clippings from various local newspapers. Many of the articles printed prior to February 25, 1986 discuss the events that were to take place during Ford’s visit to Elon College (7:4-7:7). There is one folder dedicated to February 26, 1986 (the day after Ford’s visit) that replays and captures the results of the events that occurred during the visit (7:8). In addition, the articles offer insight into the speech that Ford gave by offering various quotes and analysis of the delivery (7:8).

Moreover, the pamphlets included in this series present multiple photographs and text from newspaper clippings that re-cap Gerald Fords’ visit to Elon College. All of the pamphlets are oversized and have been physically separated and are now housed with the Mss.Coll.009 oversize collection (7:11).

The schedules in this series offer some of the most detailed information pertaining to Gerald Ford’s visit to Elon College (7:12-7:14). Each schedule provides a structured outline of events that were to take place. Since these materials are arranged chronologically, one can see the natural progression of changes in the schedule/agenda leading up to the finalized version of the schedule/agenda found in the February 1986 folder (7:14). These schedules offer insight into the happenings and details that were involved with initial planning of the visit and the carrying out of the plans during Gerald Ford’s visit in 1986.