Note that the links above will take you to sections of this page, while the links below will take you to the detailed container listings on other pages.  There are also links to the detailed container listings at the very bottom of this page.
 

SUB-GROUP I:  CORRESPONDENCE (SERIES 1 THROUGH 8)

Series 1:  Personal Correspondence

This series of approximate 12 cubic feet is arranged chronologically covering the dates 1920-1980.

This series consists of incoming and outgoing correspondence arranged alphabetically in reverse chronological order.  The correspondence dates from 1941-1985 and is primarily between professional colleagues.  Correspondents include Hugh Smythe, former Chairman of the Brooklyn College Department of Sociology and Anthropology, who served as United States Ambassador to Syria from 1965 to 1967 (during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war) and as Ambassador to Malta from 1968 to 1969.  Items of special interest include a file pertaining to a controversy that erupted in the ranks of the American Sociological Association during Lee's tenure as president in 1976 regarding the changing testimony of one of its members, James Coleman, on the effectiveness of school busing policies.  The series also includes various letters to editorial pages of newspapers, to members of Congress, and requests from publishers.

Series 2:  Professional Organizations

This series, consisting of approximately 6 cubic feet, is arranged alphabetically by organization.  The time frame of the documents spans Lee's entire career.

The information within this series pertains to correspondence between Lee and professional organizations in which he was either a member or played an advisory role. Many of these organizations deal with sociological  or anthropological issues, while others are community or religious associations. The organizations featured in this series include the American Anthropological Association, the American Sociological Association and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The personal papers of Alfred M. Lee, including biographical and genealogical information as well as photographs, is also contained within this series.

Series 3:  Brooklyn College and Graduate Center Correspondence

This series is arranged chronologically from 1950 to 1983 and is contained in 1.5 cubic feet.

This series contains information on Lee's career as a professor at Brooklyn  College and his involvement at the CUNY Graduate Center.  These records provide insight into the workings of the Brooklyn College Sociology and Anthropology departments during those years.  Within the files is correspondence with Brooklyn College presidents such as Gideonse, Kneller and Hess as well as files touching upon the Rapp-Curdert hearings.  Alfred M. Lee's battle to create a substantial sociology graduate program is also in this series.

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Series 4:  Publisher's Correspondence Papers

This series of approximately 2.5 cubic feet is arranged in reverse chronological order from 1950-1913.

Arranged primarily in reverse chronological order, these records are a collection of daily correspondence consisting of typed and hand written letters to and from various publishing houses and fellow professors concerning the publication of manuscripts and the day to day details involved in the publishing process.  Included are outlines for various texts, bibliographies, book reviews, recommendations and discussions of other scholar's works, and publishing contracts from various companies.

Series 5:  Society for the Study of Social Problems

This series contained in 1.25 cubic feet is arranged chronologically spanning the period from 1952 to 1976.

This series deals with Lee's involvement with the Society for the Study  of Social Problems, an organization dedicated to the study of social problems  and finding solutions to these problems through sociological methodology.   Lee was instrumental in the creation of this organization, which was meant to be an alternative to what Lee considered the static and irresponsible sociological organizations in existence.  The organization's administrative records, correspondence and journals can be found in this series along with Barry Shira's critical study of the organization.

Series 6:  American Sociological Association

This series of approximately 1 cubic foot is arranged chronologically and spans the period 1950-1976.

This series consists of Lee's correspondence from his years as an active member and as the president of the organization (1974-75) which was originally named the American Sociological Society.  There are also lists of officers and members, the financial statements of the institution and minutes of meetings.  The politics of the organization as well as the issues and trends in the field of sociology are discussed by Lee and the other members in the correspondence and meetings of the ASA.

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Series 7:  Sociological Abstracts

This series of approximately 0.5 cubic feet is arranged chronologically and covers the years 1956 to 1983.

This series pertains to Lee's involvement with the journal Sociological Abstracts, of which he was a board member.  This series mainly consists of correspondence to and from Lee concerning what books or publications should be abstracted as well as funding for and the expansion of the journal.  Most of the correspondence is with Leo F. Chall, the editor of Sociological Abstracts.

Series 8:  Personal & Professional Correspondence

This series measuring 6 cubic feet is arranged alphabetically by subject and includes professional correspondence from the late 1920's to the early 1950's.

The Professional Correspondence series contains letters between Lee and various colleagues, publishers, and organizations of which he was a leading member.  In the correspondence with various colleagues, there are letters between Lee and other sociology professors discussing ways to improve the study of sociology.  There are also letters between Lee and other authors, leaders in the field of public opinion, and those concerned with social problems.  The correspondence with publishers consists of letters relating to his business dealings with companies as well as edits and revisions of Lee's articles and manuscripts.

There are a large number of files pertaining to Lee's relationship with  various sociological organizations such as the Sumner Club, public opinion  organizations such as the Opinion Research Center, and humanitarian, philanthropic and church organizations such as the ACLU  and the Detroit Council of Churches.  Within the series, information can be obtained about race relations, the development of sociology as a discipline and academic freedom.

SUB-GROUP II: PUBLICATIONS (SERIES 9 AND 10)

Series 9:  Publications General File

This series of approximately 1.5 cubic feet is arranged in chronological order covering the years 1929-1966.

These files contain Lee's general records on the subject of journalism, publishing and advertising.  Information on the press, public relations, propaganda and popular opinion can be found here along with many papers and articles written by Lee.  There is also a section of correspondence between Lee and authorities in the field of journalism and marketing as well as correspondence between Lee and his publishers concerning his manuscripts, particularly of his Ireland research.

Series 10:  Published and Unpublished Materials

This series of approximately 12.25 cubic feet in length is arranged chronologically spanning the years 1933-1989.

Contained within this series are the professional writings of Alfred M. Lee from his master's thesis through the journal articles produced at the end of his long, productive career.  Lee's numerous journal articles, formal  papers, reviews and books are located in this series, along with a collection of index cards listing all of his publications and criticisms of his work.

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SUB-GROUP III: ORGANIZATIONAL FILES (SERIES 11)

Series 11:  Institute for Propaganda Analysis

This series of approximately 2 cubic feet is arranged chronologically and spans the years 1937 to 1950.

Contained within this series are not only Lee's personal and professional correspondence with this organization of which he was an active member, but also documents, meeting minutes, photographs and articles that trace the history of the organization.

SUB-GROUP IV: RESEARCH FILES (SERIES 12 THROUGH 15)

Series 12:  Outline to Sociology

Contained within this series are the research materials that Lee used for reference while writing the book Outline To Sociology. The research files are in a variety of forms including articles, pamphlets, news clippings, correspondence and journals, covering such topics as democracy, health issues, migration, social theory, education and marriage.

Series 13:  MARC Transcripts

This series of approximately 0.5 cubic feet in length is arranged chronologically by the date that each individual interview took place from 1970-1971.

This series contains the transcripts of the interviews that Lee and his  colleagues conducted for the Metropolitan Applied Research Center (MARC). The objective of the study was to discuss the merits of establishing new communities to ease interracial tensions. Academic experts in many fields as well as public officials and building contractors were surveyed.

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Series 14:  General Research Files

This series is approximately 7 cubic feet in length and the arrangement varies.

Series number 14 deals with Alfred M. Lee's general research files. These files contain clippings regarding various copies of research. Lee's research was very broad in scope.  However, the main focus of his work deals with civil rights and those groups who oppose them. There are several files which deal with the topic of race relations and rioting during the period from 1943 to 1964. Lee also dedicated much of his research to the Communist zeal of the 1940's and 50's and followed allegations as to who was thought to be a Communist (Lindbergh, Henry Ford, etc.).  Many files are dedicated to individuals or groups who opposed civil rights, including four files dealing with the fascist, anti-Semitic priest, Father Charles Edward Coughlin. There is also a file on the Ku Klux Klan, as well as a file filled with clippings regarding the topic of anti-Semitism.  There are many magazines in this collection, such as the Current Interpreter, Media Letter, Space and Time and Democracy's Battle.  All of these publications deal with either topics of civil rights or World War II.

Series 15:  Miscellaneous Research Files

This series consists of approximately 4.5 cubic feet and is arranged alphabetically by subject.

This series contains pamphlets, news clippings, bibliographies and book reviews on very diverse subject matters, including such topics as the World Wars, discrimination, public relations and industrialization.

SUB-GROUP V: UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE RECORDS (SERIES 16)

Series 16:  Faculty Publications And Class Records

This series of approximately 2 cubic feet is arranged chronologically.

The information contained within these files relates to Lee's career as  a professor at various universities including Wayne State University, the University of Kansas and Brooklyn College.  Most of this material consists of class outlines, schedules, departmental policies and faculty publications.  Lee's law suit against CUNY's retirement system is also in this series.