The Jacqueline Bernard Papers consist primarily of correspondence: (1) letters from Joel Bernard, including two widely-circulated letters detailing the situation in Mississippi and requesting financial assistance, and (2) general correspondence which is mainly from other Clay County civil rights workers, black residents of Clay County, and northern friends involved in backing the movement. One undated letter written by COFO volunteer Nancy Myron concerns white workers' reaction to the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee's decision to build a black leadership organization. Frequently there are carbons of Mrs. Bernard's letters which reveal her style and high level of interest.
The papers also include miscellaneous materials such as press releases, clippings, reports from Clay County COFO workers and from northern clothing project workers, materials concerning a civil rights bill introduced by New York Congressman Joseph Y. Resnick, and minutes from a 1965 meeting of the Poor People's Corporation plus a brochure concerning the Corporation.
