Archives: About Us The National Press Club was established in 1908. Over time, members and staff have collected artifacts, artwork, papers, and recordings. A Club historian oversaw the materials during the early years. In 1967 an agreement was made with the Library of Congress to have all of our recordings permanently stored and cared for by the Library. All recordings until 1989 are housed at the Library of Congress. In the 1970s the Archives Committee was established to collect and maintain valuable cartoons, photographs, artwork, books, and other materials documenting the Club's history. By 1981 a professional archivist was hired to inventory the existing collections. Since then the archives have gone through several changes. Throughout the last twenty-five years, a full time archivist was not available to handle incoming materials, or catalog the existing materials. As part of an initiative to improve access to the collections, the Club hired an archivist in 1999. Continuing this initiative, the Club allocated space for a new archive facility to be built on the 4th Floor of the National Press Building. In 2006 the collections moved to a new climate controlled facility which features a reading room and audio visual counter facilitating archival research. Today the collection contains the records of the National Press Club, the Women's National Press Club/Washington Press Club, Society of American Travel Writers, Overseas Writers, Society of Professional Journalists DC Chapter, American Women in Radio and Television DC Chapter, and various small collections of personal papers. All records are open to the public free of charge.