The collection is divided into three series: records on Zander's personal life and civic activities; records on his professional activities; and printed material, publications and newsletters. Although there is considerable documentation of the activities in which Zander was involved, there are large gaps in the records; the major period covered is about 1963-1971. Because of an agreement with the donor to retain all of the material, the collection contains some items which normally would have been separated. Generally Zander's file headings have been used. Included in the papers are correspondence, personal financial records, material related to courses Zander taught, proceedings and minutes of conferences and meetings, photographs, tape recordings and numerous clippings including those dealing with activities in which Zander engaged and others of general interest to him.

The PERSONAL AND CIVIC PAPERS consist of a Biographical Sketch, and Correspondence and Subject Files, 1921-1972. The latter files include family correspondence; letters and related material pertaining to the many organizations to which Zander belonged, and to the Green Bay Research Corporation, an unsuccessful business venture to manufacture a device for automobiles designed to decrease pollution and increase gas mileage; copies of Zander's thesis; papers concerning the World Law Fund; and financial records.

The PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES series is divided into five subseries. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, (AFSCME) papers are probably the richest resource. The early papers document dissension and power struggles of the young union. The papers from 1963 to 1970 deal mainly with Zander's ouster as union president, and the alleged mismanagement of housing development projects during his term as president. Materials related to housing include transcripts of Congressional hearings, letters, newsclippings and photographs. Other correspondence concerns Zander's difficulty in obtaining his pension benefits which Jerry Wurf, AFSCME's new president, sought to deny him. Tape recordings include a 1958 address by Harry Golden, editor of the Carolina Israelite, to the National Trade Union Council on Civil Rights of the Jewish Labor Committee; and speakers at the Silver Anniversary of AFSCME, 17 November 1961: Secretary of Labor Arthur Goldberg, Governor of Wisconsin Gaylord Nelson, United Auto Workers president Walter Reuther, and Zander.

The National Planning Association subseries also contains the papers of two of its committees, the British-North American Committee and the Canadian-American Committee. Included are correspondence, minutes, membership lists, confidential memos and reports, and conference reports. Zander was a member of the steering committee which established the British-North American Committee in 1968-1969. The subseries Public Services International (PSI) consists of correspondence, proceedings of the International Congress at Stockholm in 1964, and newsletters. A letter dated March 8, 1967 accuses Zander of recommending the Gotham Foundation, which was a conduit for CIA funds, as a source of funds for a housing development in Puerto Rice. Also included is Zander's reply denying any knowledge of CIA activity.

The Teaching subseries contains papers related to the University of Wisconsin Center System for the academic year 1967-1968, and for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay from 1967 to 1972. The overlap in years is accounted for by the fact that the Green Bay campus was included in the Center System at that time. The Center System papers include Zander's appointment and course work material. Of particular interest in the Green Bay papers are the memos from Dr. Rollin Posey concerning the planning of the School of Professional Studies. Other material includes student papers, research and course materials , and correspondence and research on the establishment of a Canadian Studies program at Green Bay. During 1970-1971 Zander conducted leadership seminars for members of the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce. Papers relating to these seminars include biographical sketches of participants as well as letters and working papers. The subseries United World Federalists contains correspondence, minutes, bylaws, Stanley Foundation Strategy for Peace papers, and printed material.

The series PRINTED MATERIAL, PUBLICATIONS, AND NEWSLETTERS contains broken runs of publications and newsletters to which Zander subscribed or those he received as a result of his varied activities.