The collection is arranged in two series: General Records and Gulfport Project Records. Most of the materials consist of near-print reports of meetings or project activities, flyers, newsletters, news releases, and similar material.
The GENERAL RECORDS files contain many near-print SNCC and COFO materials, including position papers, reports, memoranda, project materials, and clippings. There are printed essays entitled “What is the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee?” by James Forman, and “What is COFO?”, and others on topics of interest to SNCC and COFO. Some were produced by the Students for a Democratic Society. There is an account by John Lewis and Donald Harris of their 1964 trip to Africa; papers about the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project; and WATS reports, recording incidents of harassment and abuse of civil rights workers. Freedom School files contain curriculum materials, including black history study materials, and some student records. Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party papers consist of reports, newsletters, news releases, and clippings. A small file of clippings and news releases is also available for the Free Southern Theater.
RECORDS OF THE GULFPORT PROJECT have been arranged by topic and pertain specifically to the project. Included are a printed report and analysis of community organizing in Gulfport, 1965, authored by staff members Walker and John Else; issues of the project newsletter, “The Liberty Bell”; minutes of community meetings and records of organizing activities; voter registration lists and materials; affidavits and letters regarding harassment and beatings; reports; flyers; and applications. A folder of staff reports contains financial reports, reports of Gulfport Project director Charles McKeller, and staff biographical information.
