Hefner's unflinching commitment to effecting social change through the political process resulted in a deep and remarkably varied body of records. Although the Hefner papers span only about five years of his career in detail (1959-1964), they offer remarkable insight into the mind and organizational activities of a tireless peace advocate, a would-be congressman, and progressive proponent of causes ranging from civil rights to disarmament, a just foreign policy, and social equity at home.

Organized in three series, the collection contains records relating to Hefner's two runs for a seat in U.S. Congress from the First District of Massachusetts (1960 and 1962); materials relating to his work with peace organizations (Turn To Peace, Platform For Peace, SANE) and Civil Rights groups (Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party); and the foundational records for Political Action for Peace. The content in each of these series is varied, but overlaps considerably, and each series includes both incoming and outgoing correspondence, memoranda, newsletters, campaign press releases, and ephemera.