The Jacobus tenBroek papers span from 1924 to 1997 and consist primarily of the personal and professional papers of Jacobus tenBroek. Upon tenBroek's death in 1968, his wife, Hazel tenBroek, continued to add materials to the collection.  The collection includes correspondence, memoranda, meeting minutes, reports, lists, drafts, notes, legislative documents, legal documents, newspaper clippings, telegrams, financial documents, photographs and photographic negatives, pamphlets, manuscripts of published and unpublished writings and speeches, books and journals, diplomas, awards, and miscellaneous Braille documents. A few sound recordings on talking book records and audio tape are also included in the collection. The major portion of the collection relates to Jacobus tenBroek's work as the founder and president of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB); as a professor and legal scholar at the University of California, Berkeley; as a recognized expert on California's social welfare system; and as president of the International Federation of the Blind (IFB). A smaller portion of the collection consists of tenBroek's personal correspondence with family members, friends, and colleagues (1938-1968). Access to some documents, such as student records and legal case files, may be restricted for privacy and attorney-client privilege reasons. Materials pertaining to the founding and early history of the National Federation of the Blind span the years 1924 to1996 (bulk 1939-1977) and document the people, issues, and events that marked the beginning and initial period of a national civil rights movement among blind Americans. Included in this subcollection are NFB constitutions, incorporation papers, meeting minutes, convention minutes and resolutions (1940-1986), correspondence (1940-1996), legislative documents (1935-1974), financial documents, fundraising materials, and NFB publications (1941-1993). Also included are documents related to the right to organize movement (1953-1965), the NFB "civil war" (1958-1962), the rehabilitation and employment of the blind, the fight to receive social security benefits, and the affiliation of state and local organizations of blind consumers into the NFB. This subcollection also includes NFB staff correspondence files (1924-1977) for Jacobus tenBroek, Kenneth Jernigan, Russell Kletzing, Perry Sundquist, Raymond Henderson, John Nagle, George Card, and others. The University of California at Berkeley subcollection (1941-1975) documents Jacobus tenBroek's tenure as a professor and administrator in the Speech and Political Science Departments through class files (1941-1968), correspondence (1950-1968), and department and committee correspondence and meeting minutes (1945-1969). Dr. tenBroek's role at Berkeley as an advocate for academic freedom and free speech are documented by correspondence, speeches, newspaper clippings, and legal documents related to the Free Speech Movement (1964-1966) and the loyalty oath controversy of the 1950's. Documents relevant to tenBroek's work as a legal scholar are included in the Writings subcollection (1931-1967, bulk 1944-1967) in the form of correspondence with collaborators, including Howard Jay Graham (1946-1968); draft manuscripts; conference papers; reprints of law review articles; and published articles and books. The text of speeches (1940-1968) given by tenBroek in his capacity as president of the NFB and IFB, member of the California State Social Welfare Board, and university professor are also included in the Writings subcollection. Dr. tenBroek's interest in the California social welfare system, both as a legal scholar and as a member of the California State Social Welfare Board (SSWB), is reflected by the documents in the California Social Welfare series (1942-1972) of the Personal Files subcollection (1936-1972, bulk 1938-1968). Documents included in this series include state and county agency procedure manuals, opinions issued by the California attorney general, SSWB case files, hearing and court documents, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and state and county agency statistical data and reports. Other materials included in the Personal Files subcollection include tenBroek's research materials (1937-1970), as well as newspaper clippings, telegrams, cards, and letters that the tenBroek family received upon the death of Jacobus tenBroek. Also included is tenBroek's personal correspondence (1938-1969) with family members, including sister Lillian Preston (1942-1964) and son Dutch (1965-1967), friends, and colleagues, including Berkeley professor Charles Aiken (1939-1960) and Harvard Law professor Thomas Reed Powell (1939-1947). Materials pertaining to the founding and administration of the International Federation of the Blind (IFB) span 1954 to 1984 (bulk 1954-1974) and consist of the IFB constitution, IFB publications (1964-1974), correspondence (1964-1984), convention materials (1969-1979), mailing lists, executive committee correspondence and meeting minutes, fundraising letters, financial documents, and publications of blind consumer groups from throughout the world. Also included in this subcollection is correspondence with leaders of blind consumer groups affiliated with the IFB, including Dr. Fatima Shah of Pakistan (1967-1968), Horst Geisler of Germany (1967-1968), Rajendra Vyas of India (1967-1968), and Tom Parker of Great Britain (1967-1968). Upon the death of Jacobus tenBroek in 1968, his wife, Hazel tenBroek, continued to add to the collection until 1997. Materials related to entitlement programs, and the education and rehabilitation of the blind that were similar in nature to those collected by her husband, continued to be made a part of the collection by Mrs. tenBroek. In addition, the Hazel tenBroek subcollection (bulk 1968-1983) includes correspondence (1965-1993), documents related to the activities of the California affiliate of the NFB (1957-1996), and materials regarding access technology (1969-1977). The correspondence series includes Mrs. tenBroek's personal correspondence, NFB correspondence, drafts, notes, and newspaper clippings. Documents included in the California affiliate series include correspondence, convention minutes and resolutions, affiliate constitution and bylaws, materials related to the Blind Californian, meeting minutes of committees and divisions, and legislative documents. The access technology series includes sales promotional materials on access technology such as closed circuit television, a Braille calculator, and the Optacon. Many of the documents included in the Hazel tenBroek subcollection were acquired by Mrs. tenBroek in her role as associate editor of the Braille Monitor.