RUSSELL H. ARMENTROUT FILES, (1973) 1974-77

The collection encompasses the Ford White House files of Social Entertainments Office directors Sanford L. Fox and his March 1975 successor, Russell H. Armentrout. Supervised by Maria Downs, Mrs. Ford’s Social Secretary, Fox and Armentrout oversaw two assistant chiefs (William T. Gemmell for calligraphy, and Janice M. Ingersoll for arrangements), one calligrapher/graphic designer (John J. Scarfone), two illustrators (Kathleen S. McCann and Alexander B. Schiavoni), and one clerical employee (Barbara A. Besednik). All of whom had been appointed to the White House Staff prior to the Ford Administration.

The Social Entertainments Office worked with Mrs. Ford and others to coordinate menu planning, guest lists, seating arrangements, and entertainment programs for social events at the White House, Camp David, aboard the Presidential yacht, and occasionally during State visits abroad. The Office also kept a card index of all individuals invited to White House events. A major portion of this collection consists of all things Christmas, from parties and candlelight tours to Christmas card lists, indexes, and mailings. The rest of this collection is made up of forms and handouts, such as booklets and photos, acknowledgement cards ranging from birthdays to Eagle Scout congratulations, and requests made by the general public for items like Christmas cards and commencement acknowledgment cards. While this collection will be useful for researchers interested in Social Entertainments events and mailings, researchers will not learn much about Fox or Armentrout or their specific administrative activities. 

Much of this collection came to the Ford Library from the White House in January 1977. Since 1977, the Ford Office in California has found and sent small additions. Due to the abundance of duplicative material in this collection, Library staff removed all but two copies of each duplicate item during processing and arrangement. Documents considered especially valuable have been removed and replaced with photocopies.

Related Materials (February 2006)
Related open materials on White House social affairs can be found in: the papers of Betty Ford; the files and/or papers of Maria Downs (First Lady’s Staff); the files of Sheila R. Weidenfeld (First Lady’s Staff); the files of Frances K. Pullen (White House Editorial Office; First Lady’s Staff); the files of Susan Porter (First Lady’s Staff); the files of Ron Nessen (Press Secretary’s Office); the files of Max L. Friedersdorf (Congressional Relations Office); Presidential Speeches: Reading Copies; the files of Paul Theis and Robert Orben (Editorial and Speechwriting Staff); and the White House Central Files Subject File categories PR 14-4 (Entertainments) and SO (Social Affairs), SO 2 (Breakfasts), SO 3 (Dinners), SO 4 (Luncheons), SO 6 (Receptions), and SO 7 (Teas – Garden Parties – Concerts).

Related open materials on holidays at the White House can be found in: the papers of Betty Ford; the files and/or papers of Maria Downs (First Lady’s Staff); the files of Sheila R. Weidenfeld (First Lady’s Staff); the files of Ron Nessen (Press Secretary’s Office); Presidential Speeches: Reading Copies; the files of Paul Theis and Robert Orben (Editorial and Speechwriting Staff); and the White House Central Files Subject File category HO 12 (Christmas – New Year).