The Barbara Abel Papers consist of 1.5 linear ft. and are primarily related to her professional life, dating from 1918 to 1989. Types of materials include correspondence, speeches, photographs, press releases, reports, journal and newspaper articles, magazine columns, scripts for skits and plays, speeches, writings, editorial files, and memorabilia.

The bulk of the papers date from 1926 to 1960 and consist primarily of scripts for skits and magazine columns for the YWCA and Community Chests and Councils of America. Other files give a sense of Abel's work as an editor an speech writer. Though the biographical materials are scant, her lively personality and wit are abundantly represented in the writings and correspondence.

This collection is organized into three series:

• I. BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS, CORRESPONDENCE, AND PHOTOGRAPHS
• II. WRITINGS
• III. ORGANIZATIONS