Established by a grant from the Fund for Adult Education in 1951, the Center for the Study of Liberal Education for Adults (CSLEA) worked with universities seeking to initiate or to improve adult education programs. Its purpose was to help American higher education develop greater effectiveness and a deeper sense of responsibility for the liberal education of adults. During its tenure the Center had three directors; John S. Diekhoff (1952-1953), John B. Schwertman (1953-1956), and A.A. Liveright (1956-1968). The records include correspondence, organizational files, publication files, writings, and miscellany. Key correspondents, mostly from the Center, are James T. Carey, Alexander N. Charters, Roger DeCrow, John S. Diekhoff, C. Scott Fletcher, Freda H. Goldman, Morton Gordon, Kenneth Haygood, Cyril Orvin Houle, A. A. Liveright, Harry L. Miller, John B. Schwertman, Peter E. Siegle, Marilyn M. Vaughan, and James B. Whipple.

Administrative files, correspondence, proposals, and publications of the Clearinghouse Resources for Educators of Adults at Syracuse University. Correspondence of significant duration or amount includes Charters, Alexander N.; Rivera, William; Holmwood, Donald; and the State Education Department.

Records and papers of the adult education and literacy organization. Collection includes conference planning and programs, minutes, published material, newsletters, membership directories, policies and procedures, bylaws, treasurer's reports, strategic planning files, historian reports, more.

Contains operational and published material from the Council on the Continuing Education Unit, including papers, articles, meeting minutes, drafts, correspondence, and conference proceedings.

The ERIC/AE collection contains organizational material, correspondence, financial records, printed material, and reports related to ERIC/AE and its predecessor, the Library of Continuing Education. Printed material includes information sources, occasional papers and newsletters published by the Clearinghouse. Writings by Alexander N. Charters, Margaret Charters, Roger DeCrow, Stanley M. Grabowski, Charles Hoover, Huey B. Long, John A. Niemi, John Ohliger, Sara M. Steele and Coolie Verner are included.

Personal papers of the missionary, adult educator, and literacy pioneer; also contains organizational records of Laubach Literacy, Inc. Collection includes correspondence, administrative papers, financial papers, U.S. and international projects, writings, photographs, and miscellanea.

Correspondence, writings, reports, speeches, notes, interviews, and other material by and about adult educator Howard McClusky.

Writings, correspondence, memorabilia of the adult educator, proponent of Participation Training and developer of the Indiana Plan (for adult education in the church); also includes published writings by others.

Professional papers from the adult education scholar and teacher

Contains Knowles's personal and professional papers: biographical data, correspondence, photographs, printed and published material, scrapbooks, speeches, meeting and workshop documentation, cassette and video tapes, films, and graphics. Includes papers generated by Knowles as professor (Boston University and North Carolina State University); as member of a number of adult education organizations; as educator (workshops and seminars); and as consultant to various organizations.