The Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) was a national organization with chapters on college campuses around the United States. Their activities focused on advancing social justice movements like the civil rights movement, Women's liberation, and the anti-Vietnam War movement. Chapters also focused on local movements and advocacy. Princeton's chapter fought against military recruitment on campus and the University's relationship with the Institute for Defense Analysis (IDA).

This collection contains personal records of Princeton's chapter from Tarlau, The New Left Notes newspaper, and subject files of local and national activist movements.