This year marks 30 years since James D. Wolfensohn became president of the World Bank Group (WBG). On this anniversary, the records from his presidency (June 1, 1995 – May 31, 2005) become eligible for declassification under the World Bank’s Access to Information Policy.
The WBG Archives is launching a series of product releases and events to celebrate President Wolfensohn’s legacy and to draw attention and facilitate access to this unique and invaluable collection of records. These initiatives emphasize the WBG’s commitment to transparency and access and reinforce its role as a knowledge institution.
Exhibit – James D. Wolfensohn 30 Years On: Advancing Transparency and Development (May 27 – June 13, 2025)
A number of discovery tools and other initiatives have been released as part of these commemorative activities. They include:
An archival description of the Records of President James D. Wolfensohn. This description facilitates researcher access to the nearly 1,000 feet - or more than 1.1 million pages - of newly available records relating to President Wolfensohn’s tenure.
Proactive disclosure and digitization of more than 50 feet (or 60,000 pages) of President Wolfensohn’s records. These records, which consist of briefing materials for meetings, events, speeches, and other activities, will be available electronically to the public on the Archives Catalog.
A timeline that explores the achievements of President Wolfensohn and the World Bank Group during his tenure. Thirty-two events are illuminated by nearly 200 archival records, audiovisual materials, photos, reports, and other resources and websites.
Other exciting resources and discovery tools are planned for future release as part of the program, including:
Dozens of recently digitized videos from the Wolfensohn era available through the new Archives Multimedia Catalog.
Archival descriptions of records generated by World Bank Group managing directors who served under President Wolfensohn.
And more!
We invite you to participate in this exciting opportunity to explore the achievements and contributions of the World Bank Group during this dynamic period of its history!
