The Public Relations Department papers document the general activities and public opinion of the Rockefeller family during the years 1946-1961. Nelson, Winthrop, Laurance, David, and JDR 3rd are mentioned most frequently throughout the collection. The collection is primarily made up of correspondence between Rockefeller brothers and various public relations employees, studies, administrative files, articles and clippings. A large amount of material relates to Nelson's foreign aid projects in Venezuela and Brazil, specifically the American International Association for Economic and Social Development (AIA) (Series 1) and the International Basic Economy Corporation (IBEC) (Series 2). Nelson's political campaigns are documented heavily as well (see Series 6, Politics, 1941-1960).

The collection comprehensively documents the philanthropic activities of the Rockefeller Foundation through available records in the areas of projects (grants), fellowships, general correspondence, administration, program and policy, board minutes and officers' actions, China Medical Board records, the International Health Board/Division (IHB/IHD), the activities of a variety of the Foundation's field offices, as well as officers' diaries, oral histories, and associated photographs and audiovisual materials.

Records include: correspondence, memoranda, minutes, and reports.

This material consists of administrative and program and policy information in the form of correspondence, memoranda, minutes, and reports.

Consists of films, video and audio materials.

The scope and breadth of the Biographical File is inconsistent. Some files are rich, while others are sparse.

Primarily documents appropriations, with a small selection of financial records and audiovisual materials.

Contains slides, prints and other still images. Primarily documents activities in Brazil, Mexico and the Philippines. Images and associated correspondence also include selections made for use in several annual reports, newsletters, and select other publications and reports as well as images of staff, officers, trustees and events.

Currently contains Communications Office photographs.

The preponderance of the collection consists of various summaries of the Rockefeller Foundation and GEB grant administration files prepared by the Foundation staff for use by senior staff and Foundation counsel as they responded to written questions from the Cox and Reece investigations and as they prepared for Dean Rusk's testimony at the Cox committee hearing.