Most of the material in this series is correspondence from constituents, colleagues, government officials of various levels, friends and family. In addition, some reports, maps, photographs, and newspaper/magazine articles can be found in this series. A variety of routine office material, such as purchase orders for office supplies, requests for government documents, and declined invitations, have been removed from this series. Furthermore, in a few cases where large numbers of form letters or postcards came in concerning a particular topic, a count of these pieces has been made, representative examples kept, and the remainder removed from the series. Among the subjects covered are agriculture, civil rights, communism, foreign relations, labor, military affairs, politics, postal affairs, and taxes. There are a number of records relating to the controversy of United States Senator J.W. Fulbright's memorandum on "muzzling" the United States military in 1961. Also included is information concerning Senator Thurmond's personal life, such as invitations, organization memberships, correspondence with family and friends, religious activities and trips. There is some material concerning Thurmond's resignation from the United States Senate in 1956 and the possibility of Thurmond being a third party presidential candidate in 1960. In addition, there are some records concerning Thurmond's switch to the Republican Party in 1964 and Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign of the same year.

Important individuals in this series from South Carolina include State Representative Solomon Blatt, Walter J. Brown, James F. Byrnes, United States Congressman William Jennings Bryan Dorn, and Clemson College Presidents Robert C. Edwards and Robert F. Poole. Other important individuals include President Lyndon B. Johnson, United States Senators Barry Goldwater, and Richard B. Russell.