This subseries (7.65 linear feet) provides partial documentation of issues of importance to ACLU lawyers from 1937-1980. There are no materials for the years 1962 to 1964, 1975, and 1978 to 1979.

The Membership subseries (0.84 linear feet), arranged alphabetically within each year, primarily consists of correspondence and statistics concerning ACLU membership. The correspondence includes comments on various issues concerning ACLU actions, applications, resignations, deaths, and membership surveys. The statistics include numbers of members and information on contributions.

This subseries (9.66 linear feet) primarily contains the records of Trudi Schutz. Schutz served as Press Director (1974-1975) and Director of the Public Information and Education Office (1975-1987). The 1988 materials contain some correspondence of the next director of the office, Colleen O'Connor. The records are arranged under two headings: subject files and affiliates, with the materials arranged alphabetically and then chronologically within each subject.

The Policies subseries (1.68 linear feet) contains statements of policy and resolutions in response to questions and concerns brought up by members and staff of the ACLU. Arranged chronologically by year and alphabetically within each year, subjects range from bus transportation to teachers' right to strike. A significant part of this subseries has to do with the controversy surrounding the 1940 resolution to bar anyone supporting totalitarian movements to hold an official position within the ACLU which led to the expulsion of Elizabeth Gurley Flynn from the Board of Directors. (See also the Elizabeth Gurley Flynn Ouster subseries, boxes 74-75). The ACLU's policy on civil disobedience also constitutes a prominent portion of this subseries. The researcher may also want to refer to Series 5, ACLU Printed materials for a more extensive listing of policies contained in the policy guides.

This subseries (11.25 linear feet) documents internal meetings and celebrations of the ACLU in addition to various other meetings that ACLU employees attended because of a concern for civil liberties issues. Arranged chronologically and then alphabetically within each year, it contains correspondence, minutes, notices, mailings, speeches, reports, and printed materials.

The affiliates subseries (56.70 linear feet), arranged chronologically by year then alphabetically by state, contains mailings from the national office to affiliates, board minutes of affiliates, general correspondence, and affiliate publications. In states with several chapters, material is filed by city or chapter name within each state. In the early years many states had civil liberties committees but not full fledged affiliates. These files are labeled "committee."