2025 marked 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) became eligible for declassification under the World Bank’s Access to Information (ATI) Policy.
The WBG Archives launched 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 declassification 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, are 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.
Dozens of recently digitized videos from the Wolfensohn era available through the new Archives Multimedia Catalog.
- The Multimedia Catalog also includes more than 1,000 recently digitized photos of Wolfensohn's travels, including trips to China, Ghana, Indonesia, Malawi, and Ukraine.
- Archival descriptions of records generated by World Bank Group managing directors who served under President Wolfensohn, including Jessica P. Einhorn, Richard H. Frank, and Caio Koch-Weser.
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!
