The Edward F. McClain Papers cover his service in the Wisconsin State Assembly (1975-1980). The collection is divided into CORRESPONDENCE and SUBJECT FILES.
The correspondence in the collection is arranged in two different ways: for the years 1975 and 1976, McClain's first term in the Assembly, the arrangement is alphabetical by correspondent; correspondence from the years 1977 to 1980 is arranged chronologically. Included are a wide variety of correspondents: private citizens, other state legislators, governmental agencies, colleagues of McClain's from the academic community, business leaders and lobbyists, and other public figures. The subject files are arranged alphabetically, and deal with some of McClain's chief concerns as legislator: unemployment compensation reform, Social Security, and the food stamp program.
