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The Abdullah Abdurahman Family Papers contain materials from three members of the family; those of Abdullah Abdurahman (1872-1940), physician and political leader, and his wife, Mrs. Helen Abdurahman (1877?-1953), comprise half of the material and Dr. and Mrs. Abdurahman's daughter, Mrs. Zainunnissa Gool (1897-1963), political leader, the other half. Despite gaps, the Abdullah Abdurahman Family Papers provide an historical view of the Coloured population's struggle for political and economic equality in South Africa. Of special importance are the records reflecting Dr. Abdurahman's involvement in the African People's Organization, the Cape Town City Council, and the Cape Provincial Council, and Mrs. Gool's involvement in the National Liberation League, the Non-European United Front, the Passive Resistance Movement and the Cape Town City Council. A few items relating to Mrs. Helen Abdurahman's civic and political activities are in the collection.

The Aldridge Collection consists of materials relating to 19th century African-American tragedian Ira Frederick Aldridge (1807-1967) and his children, mainly his daughter Amanda Christina Elizabeth Aldridge, known as Amanda Ira Aldridge (1866-1956) who composed under the pseudonym Montague Ring. Included in the collection are correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, musical manuscripts and scores, personal and legal documents, articles, and memorabilia.

The papers in this collection were generated by Rev. Vernon Anderson, a Presbyterian missionary. They include personal correspondence, correspondence and reports which Rev. Anderson received while serving on the Commission pour la protection des indigènes, ethnographic notes on the Baluba, field notes taken during meetings with informants in Baluba villages, detailed genealogical clan lists, typescript and photocopies of scholarly papers and articles, newspaper clippings, and notecard files.