The papers primarily contain correspondence, but also include articles, drafts, conference materials, financial records, and administrative files. Subjects include Packer's academic career at Yale and Stanford; his research and writing on the Alger Hiss trial; the government witness project undertaken at Stanford; and other legal issues. Correspondents include Robert Barnard, Edward N. Benjamin, Palmer L. Bevis, Warren Christopher, Robert A. Koch, Richard W. Lyman, Phil C. Neal, Louis B. Schwartz, Thomas W. Swan, Donald F. Turner and Edwin Zimmerman.

Herbert L. Packer earned his B.A. (1944) and LL.B. (1949) at Yale University. After private practice in a Washington law firm, he came to Stanford as Associate Professor of Law in 1956 and was appointed Professor in 1959. From 1967 to 1969 he served as Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Programs. After suffering a massive stroke, he returned to the Law School in the fall of 1969. He was named Jackson Eli Reynolds Professor of Law in 1971. Packer's first book, EX-COMMUNIST WITNESSES: FOUR STUDIES IN FACT FINDING, was conceived at the time he came to Stanford and was supported by a research grant from the Fund for the Republic.

7 Linear feet (15 boxes)

All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from, or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries, Stanford, California 94304-6064. Consent is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright owner, heir(s) or assigns. See: http://library.stanford.edu/depts/spc/pubserv/permissions.html.

Correspondence in box 15 is restricted. The collection is otherwise open for research; materials must be requested at least 48 hours in advance of intended use.