This series provides an overview of sexual and reproductive liberties on a national level during the late 1960s and 1970s. The series is arranged alphabetically by subject, and chronologically within each folder. The bulk of this series is composed of material that covers more than one state or discusses a subject from the national perspective. Abortion, contraception, and the rights of minors can be examined on a state-to-state basis. Federal legislation and materials related to national organizations, including the ACLU, NARAL, and PPFA form a large part of this series. All of the cases that have been heard by the Supreme Court are found within this series, and include all materials related to lower court decisions. Cases that the Supreme Court refused to hear can be found in SERIES II. INDIVIDUAL STATES AND TERRITORIES. The subject categories "families and family law" and "status of women" cover both state and national topics. "Civil rights and liberties" includes material on a wide variety of subjects not related to gender or sexual rights. The only biographical material related to Harriet Pilpel is found under the organization, Sex Information and Education Council of the United States.

This series comprises the bulk of the collection and covers topics related to sexual rights and liberties within each of the states and territories. The materials are arranged in alphabetical order first by state or territory, and then by topic within each state or territory. New York, Massachusetts, and Michigan form the largest portions of the series. Most of the daily transcripts from Commonwealth of Massachusetts vs. Edelin, a widely publicized trial of an abortion doctor accused of manslaughter in 1975, are also included. [Note: The transcripts from days two through four and fifteen are missing.] In 1971, Pilpel worked on a Health, Education, and Welfare survey that compared family planning and reproductive rights laws in each of the states and territories. The results of that survey, as well as the correspondence relating to it, are found in most of the states and territories under reproductive rights. Many court cases at both the state and district court levels can be found within this series under the subject of the case.

This series examines sexual rights and liberties as well as the status of women around the world during the 1970s. The categories "abortion," "family planning and population programs," "sterilization," and the "status of women" are predominantly composed of articles and newspaper clippings. If a document discusses more than one country or looks at a subject from a global perspective, it is located within the general files under the subject. If the focus of an article is specific to one country, then it is filed under the individual country. The names of individual countries are arranged in alphabetical order