Obama Presidential Center

Franklin Roosevelt helped launch the modern system of presidential libraries in the late 1930s. A network of museums and research facilities has since grown nationwide. Historian Douglas Brinkley calls them vital hubs for lectures and research. Presidential libraries often reflect a leader's personality and legacy. Settings for presidential libraries range from small towns in Iowa to big cities in Texas and California. Barack Obama's library opens to the public Friday in Chicago. While archives are mostly managed by the National Archives, museums are funded by private donors, which can influence how history is presented.