The records of the American Council of Christian Laymen consist almost entirely of the correspondence of its president and chief policy maker Verne P. Kaub, together with an incomplete run of “Challenge,” its newsletter; other mailings and advertising literature; pamphlets which it published; and two cashbooks. In addition, other titles written by Kaub are available in the Society Library. Unfortunately, there are no records dealing with the founding of the organization.

Originally donated from 1959 to 1964, the collection became available for research in 1984. Because the papers were badly deteriorated, the collection was microfilmed. At this time all routine correspondence and literature orders were removed. The remaining collection (13 cubic feet before filming) is still a testimony to Kaub's prodigious abilities as a letter writer.

Despite its narrow interests within the anti-Communist movement, the records of ACCL have little to say specifically on either of its two purposes: Christian Americanism or Communism propaganda in the schools. Instead, because of Kaub's wide-ranging personal influence within conservative circles, the collection is more valuable as a resource for studying conservatism generally during the 1950s. The correspondence ranges from ordinary citizens who wrote concerning their ideas and local activities to nationally-known leaders of the far right. Because the majority of these individuals are undocumented in archival collections, their extensive and detailed correspondence with Kaub is a unique and valuable resource. Among the correspondents are William F. Buckley, Edgar Bundy, L. Ray Carroll, Willis Carto, John K. Crippen, Harry Everingham, C.O. Garshwiler, William J. Grede, Chester Hanson, Billy James Hargis, Merwin K. Hart, Joseph P. Kamp, James J. Kilpatrick, Fulton Lewis, Jr., Joseph R. McCarthy, Carl McIntire, Ben Moreell, James D. Murch, Henry Regnery, George Robnett, Edward A. Rumley, Gerald L. K. Smith, Dan Smoot, Robert Welch, Gerald B. Winrod, and Allen Zoll.

The CORRESPONDENCE is arranged by month and then alphabetically by name. However, it must be understood that the January, 1953 file, for example, contains correspondence which closed during that month, not just letters written during that period. As a result, the January 1953 file on Allen Zoll, may actually include many letters written during several prior months. Researchers should also be prepared for some inconsistencies in filing. Some individual names may be found to be filed by their own name and by the name of the organization or the publication with which they were associated.

Also on the microfilm are an incomplete run of “Challenge” (borrowed from the SHSW Library), other informational mailings and advertising brochures, and copies of various ACCL publications. Other titles which they published or distributed are available as part of the Library's collections, as are Kaub's other writings. Not available on film are two cashbooks, 1949-1954, which individually list all subscribers and contributors.