Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1968 - 1981 (Creation)
Level of description
Series
Extent and medium
0.80 linear feet of textual records
Context area
Repository
Archival history
Some discussion papers from the Secretary's Office were interfiled with the minutes of the President's Council when they were formerly processed. They have been separated and are now described under their original originating unit.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Part of these files were transferred directly from the Office of the President to the Archives on September 14, 1981; they were sent to the Joint Bank/Fund Library in May 1985 for McNamara's former secretary to index. They were returned to the Archives, along with additional files that she had received from McNamara's office, on June 29, 1987.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The President's Council was established by President Woods in March 1965. Originally composed of the Vice-Presidents, the Economic Adviser to the President, the General Counsel and the Directors of the Information, Administration, and Development Services Departments, the size of the President's Council increased to more than twenty members after the McNamara reorganization of 1972, including the Senior Vice-Presidents, Vice-Presidents, and Department Directors. For discussion of special topics, additional persons attended on an as needed basis.
This series consists of the minutes of the President's Council meetings prepared by the Personal Assistant to the President. It contains occasional notes, drafts and annotations by President McNamara. Minutes of the Council record President McNamara's reports on official trips, meetings or interviews, recommendations, and special assignments, and members' reports on the activities of their sector or department. Issues discussed at the weekly meeting included relations with the Board of Directors, the Annual Meeting, lending and borrowing programs, the IBRD and IFC capital increases, the IDA replenishments, the Third Window, and the work of the Pearson and Brandt Commissions. The organization of the Bank, personnel issues, the status of particular projects, and studies on population control, rural development, urban poverty, health, women or energy were also major topics on the Council's agenda.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Records are arranged chronologically.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Records are subject to the World Bank Policy on Access to Information.
Conditions governing reproduction
Records are subject to the Copyright Policy of the World Bank Group.
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Also, a list of highlights covered in each meeting between 1968 and 1981 that was prepared by Ms. Blanche Moore, Robert McNamara's secretary, is available in electronic form. Please note that the Archives cannot confirm the accuracy of the list prepared by Ms. Moore.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Internal World Bank Group Archives rules based on ISAD(G).
Disclosure status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
10 May 2003