Part 1 is arranged in six categories: correspondence, news stories, subject files, Romney book manuscript, articles by or about Harris, and notebooks.

The correspondence, 1943-1961, includes many letters from David Riesman, the noted Harvard sociologist, dealing with general social and political topics. A good deal of correspondence in 1963, including exchanges with Riesman, concerns the right-wing movement in the United States. Correspondents include:

The news stories, 1949-1962, written for Time Inc. publications, are arranged chronologically and include both annotated drafts and final manuscripts.

The subject files are arranged alphabetically, and chronologically within each file wherever possible. Most of the material in the subject files is from Harris' college days, although some of a more recent date includes material on the right-wing.

The collection also includes the manuscript of Harris' book on George Romney and magazine and newspaper articles written by or about Harris. The manuscript of Harris' book Romney's Way: A Man and an Idea, originally entitled The Romney Revolt, includes progressive drafts and is annotated. The articles are chiefly post-1960, but a few are from 1947 and the 1950s.

The notebooks are undated and contain miscellaneous jottings.