The papers reveal Donahue's shaping of his political career, his leadership of the Massachusetts Democratic party organization, and his interactions with and affect on state events and government in the 1960s. The papers include 80 scrapbooks of clippings, most relating to Donahue's Presidency of the Massachusetts Senate 1964-1970 with some dating from 1960; cards on courtesy actions for constituents; appointment calendars 1964-1971; correspondence 1964-1970; tapes of radio talks; typescript texts and recordings of speeches; films; photographs of Donahue and other Massachusetts leaders; press releases; awards, citations, plaques, memorabilia; a charcoal sketch of Donahue; and a billboard-sized poster.