The collection is particularly valuable as a means of charting the day-to-day activities of the People's Office, and, because the Office was a major source of information on local events, it also chronicles the anti-war movement. The original arrangement of the records has been partially retained, although some materials have been arranged chronologically. Most of the records are handwritten and of varying degrees of legibility. Sketches and poems are also present. The earliest records of the People's Office are lacking; existing records start two weeks after operations began in August 1970. There are few financial records.
Included in the collection are drafts (“Reflections”) and a final copy of the People's Office Handbook, office space leases, minutes of weekly Office meetings (lacking from March 1971 to January 1972), and copies of the People's Release, the organization's weekly newsletter describing the Office's services, local activities, and national and world politics. The handwritten logbook records telephone calls received, synopses of problems or requests, actions taken, any inspirations about Office procedure or life in general that the staff member might have had as a result of the calls, and information received concerning local events. The log's format varied greatly, depending upon the writer. Marginal notes indicate that there was occasionally conflict in the Office when writing styles and suggestions clashed. The Madison Defense League “Bust Sheets” were standard forms filled out by Office staff from information received via telephone from those arrested or witnessing arrests. These forms include name, address, charge, bail, and other information. Other printed material in the collection mainly consists of announcements and flyers received or printed by the People's Office.
