{"value"=>"<p>The minute books (Containers #247-262) contain the original official minutes of meetings of the board of trustees with collateral documents appended to them. In the earlier period during the presidency of Vincent Astor, the minutes focus on the election of trustees, the receiving of contributions from Vincent Astor in the form of cash, shares, and real properties, portfolio management, and matters relating to grant policies and procedures. Appended to the minutes are numerous collateral documents including the Foundation's constitution, by-laws and certificate of incorporation (in Container #247); buy and sell recommendations of the investment or finance committee; lists of purchases and sales of common stock; balance sheets; statements of receipts and expenditures; and audit reports. Appended to the minutes of March 9, 1961 (Container #250) are documents relative to an agreement between the Foundation and Philip L. Graham of the <em>Washington Post</em> for the sale to the latter of 179,000 shares of common stock of Newsweek, Inc. The minutes for January 27, 1960 record the election of Brooke Russell Astor as president of the Foundation following the death of her husband, Vincent Astor. The bulk of the minutes under the presidency of Mrs. Astor reflects the on-going work of the Foundation in approving and awarding the case load of financial grants to charitable and non-profit institutions and organizations, the management of the Foundation's investment portfolio, and other routine matters.</p>"}