Central Files is composed chiefly of correspondence sent and received between Columbia University administrators and other University officers, faculty, and trustees, as well as correspondence sent and received between University administrators and individuals and organizations from outside the university.

This is an artificial collection of diplomas and certificates awarded to people associated with Columbia University from its founding as Kings College in 1754. Some diplomas found in this collection were awarded to Columbia-related individuals by other institutions. Also includes certificates presented to individuals and to the University as an institution, usually for honorary purposes. Correspondence directly related to some of these honors can also be found in this collection.

Correspondence, manuscripts, documents, notebooks, memorabilia, a tape cassette, photographs, and printed materials. The collection is primarily correspondence files, both personal and professional, along with book reviews, awards and diplomas, letters of condolence on his death, clippings, and correspondence, manuscripts and printed materials relating to THE STREAM OF HISTORY. The correspondence relates specifically to the third edition. The manuscripts are typed and holograph inserts for the third edition and possibly for the second edition as well. Among the manuscripts are twenty-two notebooks containing holograph notes and drafts of chapters. The printed material consists of one copy of THE STREAM OF HISTORY, 1934 edition.

The materials that comprise the Historical Biographical Files have been collected and added to from a variety of sources over the years by current and previous staff. The files consist of materials related to people who have a connection to the University whether as student, alumni, administrator, faculty, staff, guest lecturer, or honorary degree recipient. Materials generally consist of newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, programs, ephemera, printed matter, lists, reports, and pamphlets.

With the exception of letters to John Dewey, George Rives, G. Stanley Hall and some original incoming correspondence, the papers of James McKeen Cattell consist of typescript copies of correspondence with Seth Low, Nicholas Murray Butler, and faculty members, dealing with Psychology Dept. matters, professional matters, and Cattell's battle for academic freedom which ended in his dismissal from and subsequent suit against Columbia. Included are typescript copies of University reports, printed court records, and transcripts of correspondence with Cattell's lawyers.

Correspondence, printed materials, drafts and copies of agreements relating to the establishment and initial organization of Columbia University's School of Journalism.

The V. K. Wellington Koo papers document the diplomatic legacy of Wellington Koo as a Chinese statesman and diplomat of the 20th Century. The papers primarily consist of materials collected during Koo's diplomatic career, relating to the Lytton Commission, 1932-1933; the League of Nations, 1931-1940; the United Nations, 1944-1946; his ambassadorships to France, 1932-1941; to Britain, 1941-1946; to the United States, 1946-1956; as the Senior Advisor to the Republic of China from 1956; and as the Judge on the International Court of Justice, 1957-1966. The materials include correspondence, diaries, memoranda, manuscripts, documents, notes, speeches, maps, photographs, printed material, and audio visual material. The bulk of the materials emphasizes China's domestic and foreign affairs, such as the Sino-Japanese conflict, World War II and the Cold War in the Far East region, as well as the League of Nations and the United Nations.

The Willard L. Severinghaus Papers include the personal and professional papers of Columbia University Physics professor Willard Lesly Severinghaus, as well as a small amount of material related to the extended Severinghaus family. There are also record books from the Terre Haute, Indiana German Methodist Episcopal Church where Severinghaus's father, John F. Severinghaus, was pastor.

Correspondence, manuscripts, documents, photographs and printed materials. The correspondence is with American and English literary figures and Columbia faculty members. Included are 38 letters from Brander Matthews and 4 from Edmund Gosse. There are 5 letters from Trent to George Whicher, 3 to John Hart, and 180 postcards and letters to John Bell Henneman, as well as a group of miscellaneous letters to and from Trent. Also included are a holograph fair copy of Trent's poem "Germany, 1915" with his covering a.l.s. and several miscellaneous poems; and his contract with J.B. Lippincott Co. for the publication of GEORGE SAND. There are also two documents signed by George W. Maynard. Among the photographs is a photograph album, prepared by Hudson Stuck in 1899, of people and scenes from Dallas, Texas. Among the printed materials are Trent's examinations and outlines for English courses, and THE UNPOPULAR REVIEW with numerous pages of Trent's notes