The College Days subseries (Subseries A, 1919-1923; .30 cu. ft.) has records concerning Thurmond's attendance as a student at Clemson Agricultural College. Materials include class notes, college schedules, grade reports and some articles from the Tiger. There are also dance and commencement programs, a copy of his college transcript, and a Taps description of him in this subseries.

The Educational Career subseries (Subseries B, 1922-1942; .15 cu. ft.) concerns Thurmond's years as a teacher and as the Superintendent of Education for Edge-field County. There is information on teaching, such as the qualifications and salaries of teachers, and lists of students. Included in a small group of financial correspondence from Thurmond's period as Superintendent of Education for Edgefield County, there is a letter on a program for health exams for black and white students in the county. During this same period, Thurmond did a report on the Edisto Academy, which is in the subseries. Thurmond's teaching certificate and education record can also be found in this subseries.

Much of the General Correspondence (Subseries C, 1923-1954; 9.9 cu. ft.) deals with Thurmond's private efforts to aid constituents by using his state senatorial contacts with various New Deal agencies, such as the Works Progress Administration. Two groups he aided frequently were servicemen and their families seeking pensions or hardship discharges, and farmers hit hard during the Depression and times of natural disasters, such as the drought of 1936. Also included are many incoming and outgoing letters of congratulation for election victories and other achievements, letters of condolence received by Thurmond when his father died in 1934, and letters of solicitation asking for job recommendations and for financial or other assistance. A number of family letters are part of this subseries, especially from 1942 to 1946 when Thurmond was serving in the army during World War II. However, most of the personal correspondence for 1946-1951 is in the Gubernatorial series. Thurmond's post-gubernatorial legal practice is also reflected in these files. There are a few letters that give Thurmond's (and others, like Robert McC. Figg) reactions to the Brown decision regarding desegregation.

The Subject Correspondence (Subseries D, 1922-1956; 5.4 cu. ft.) reflects Thurmond's many private and public interests and activities, from social activities and personal and family financial investments to his membership in and leader-ship of various fraternal, political, and public service organizations. Thurmond contributed his talents to various local and state public service projects, such as the Clark's Hill Power Project, the Edgefield County Home and the Tillman Memorial Commission. Management of his many investments both in stock and land purchases and rentals during this period are reflected in this subseries. Included also are outgoing letters of condolence as well as invitations to family gatherings, graduations, and weddings.

Correspondents consist mainly of attorneys; bankers; businessmen; college and university officials; congressmen and senators (both state and federal); family; friends; federal, state and local officials; with some communications from local farmers, servicemen, students, and constituents in general. Important correspondents include D. Gordon Baker, Ira C. Blackwood, Cole L. Blease, Eugene S. Blease, Edgar A. Brown, J. Fred Buzhardt, Harry F. Byrd, James F. Byrnes, John M. Daniel, John W. Davis, James A. Farley, Robert McCormick Figg, Jr., Burton B. Hare, Butler B. Hare, John Edgar Hoover, Mildred Huggins, Olin D. Johnston, Burnet R. Maybank, Henry Morgenthau, Sam J. Nicholls, George S. Patton, Paul Quattlebaum, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Eugene Talmadge, John C. Taylor, Lowell Thomas, George Tell Timmerman, Jr., Ray Lyman Wilbur, and Ransome J. Williams.