Series 1 includes 10 versions of the constitution, 1910-1968, reflective of the changing mission of the Association. Included in the histories are typed personal recollections from 1935, the 25th anniversary of the Association, by Ruth Sessions (covering 1910-1918) and Agnes Hinckley (covering 1918-1920). In addition, a pamphlet tracing the Association's history by quoting from the personal recollections and the annual reports and minutes is included. A later, mimeographed one-page overview, pre-1954, highlights significant moments in the Association's early history.

The annual reports not only provide narratives by executive officers of the year's activities as well as statistics and financial reports, but also, particularly through 1940, evoke prevailing attitudes and customs in Northampton and surrounding towns, especially with respect to the family, children, ethnic groups, volunteerism, and social work. While the richness of the reports diminishes thereafter, and by 1974 comprises only a brief brochure, the growing complexity of the agency is evident nevertheless, particularly when the reports are used in conjunction with the minutes, which continue to be revealing.

Series 3comprises a nearly complete run of minutes from the first meeting in 1910 until 1981, including some correspondence when minute-books were used, and including as well, reports from various committees (Clothing, Case, County, for example) not in the Annual Reports. The minutes detail the work of the Association and its volunteers and staff.

Most of the correspondence in Series 4 was kept by Miriam Chrisman during her tenure as president, 1952-1957. Other correspondence was originally filed at the appropriate date in minute-books and was left there in processing. On the whole, however, correspondence for this collection is sparse.

The bulk of the reports in this series are those prepared for accreditation visits by the Child Welfare League of America and the study of CAA done by the Northampton (Hampshire County) Council of Social Agencies in 1950. The miscellaneous records are a record book of the County Committee, 1949-1951; the Children's Home Building Fund records, 1915-1919; and a record of presentations of "A Door is Open" for 1966-1969.