Press releases are the unofficial statements, notices, and positions released to the press for publication in newspapers. They cover all subjects including appointments, resignations, travel schedules, dedications, legislative messages, bill signings or vetoes, official and unofficial meetings, proclamations, etc.

The inventory is lengthy, with each individual release listed. Dates listed after each item title are for the entire folder; that press release was written and released sometime during that timeframe. The purpose of this particularity is to enable the researcher to check the list in order to find the press releases of interest so that he or she may then cross reference to other series. The press releases thus not only stand by themselves as the near daily gubernatorial activities, but also serve as a locator and for researchers who are not sure where to begin in the other series. A subject index that was kept on file cards by the governor's staff is also available as a research aid.

This series begins in 1972 during Bennett's Senate years and runs chronologically through January 1979. Several of the original folders were empty upon receipt, so perhaps some of the press releases were either never written or filed. In addition, an incomplete collection of releases given to the capitol press corps and concerning the First Lady are located at the end of the series. There also exists a folder of in-house memos sent within the staff.

Some minor refiling of speeches and press releases has been done in obvious misplacement cases. This series should be used with the Speech File Series.

Press Secretary Leroy Towns was in charge of preparing and releasing these notices during the gubernatorial period. Press releases for part of 1977 are located in his files (Box 225.26). Press releases for the First Lady are located in her series. At the end of this series in Box 166.10 is a day-by-day office-kept compilation of all press releases issued from the governor's office.