Correspondence, memoranda, minutes, newsletters, photographs, reports, speeches, writings and memorabilia of the internationally-recognized American adult educator. Personal material includes family and friends as well as organizations with which Dr. Charters was involved (e.g., Park Central Presbyterian Church). Professional material pertains to Dr. Charters' work with a wide range of issues and organizations in the field of adult and continuing education, including the Adult Education Association (AEA/USA), Association for Continuing Higher Education (ACHE), Center for the Study of Liberal Education for Adults (CSLEA), Coalition of Adult Education Organizations (CAEO), Commission of Professors of Adult Education (CPAE), International Conference on Adult Education (ICAE), International Congress of University Adult Education (ICUAE), Middle States Association (MSA), National University Extension Association (NUEA) and its successor organizations, and UNESCO. There is also extensive material relating to Dr. Charters' longstanding and central roles in adult education at Syracuse University as professor, department chair, and dean.

Records include Board of Directors’ minutes, agendas, memoranda, and reports; by-laws and articles of incorporation; committee files; conference programs; correspondence; drafts; newsletters, brochures and directories; and resolutions. Included are records from the Galaxy Conference (1969) and Wingspread Conference (1976); records of the Adult Education Action Council; and materials from UNESCO and the International Council for Adult Education, of which the Coalition is a founding member. Organizations represented include the Adult Education Association, Adult Student Personnel Association, American Association of Community and Junior Colleges, American Society for Training and Development, Association of University Evening Colleges, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, National Association of Public Continuing and Adult Education, National University Extension Association, and United States Association of Evening Students. Correspondents include Leonard P. Aries, Ray J. Ast, Alexander N. Charters, James R. Dorland, Norman D. Kurland, Charles J. Longacre, Constance J. McQueen, David Puddington, Yvonne K. Rappaport, Fran M. Spinelli, Hamilton Stillwell, Clarence H. Thompson, Willard L. Thompson, and Sandra Timmerman.

Files of the American educator (1907-1984). Personal files include oral history, correspondence from and about Theodor Wilhelm, memorabilia, photographs, material on Nazi education, student papers, speeches, selected writings, some audio-visual material, etc. There are organizational records for several California education organizations as well as a number of key national adult education organizations including the Adult Education Association of the U.S.A., Association of University Evening Colleges, Center for the Study of Liberal Education for Adults, National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, National University Extension Association, UNESCO, and University Council on Education for Public Responsibility. There are also more than 40 subject and country files and information on meetings and conferences, and two audiorecordings.