Jack Berry accepted an appointment at Northwestern University in 1964 as professor of African Languages and Linguistics. He held this position until his death on December 4, 1980. He served as the director of Northwstern's Program of Oriental and African Languages. His papers fill eighteen legal size boxes. They consist of biographical materials, correspondence, and reports, research files and publications.

Richard M. Wilson's papers are contained within one box and mostly consist of teaching materials and student papers from his African literature courses. The papers also include biographical materials, Program of African Studies materials, and some of Wilson's publications and correspondence. The papers span the years 1968-1972.