The collection is also referred to as the "Vertical Files Collection" and consists of published articles from newspapers, magazines, and academic journals. It also includes government documents and newsletters. Materials date back from the late 19th Century to present day. The subjects and people the articles pertain to reflect the different areas of study found in the Braun Research Library and Southwest Museum collections. Subjects such as, Indians of North America, Archaeology, Ethnography, California history, Los Angeles history, and the development of the Western United States are included. The collection predominately consists of English language material from the United States. There are a few items from Germany, Mexico, South America, Central America, and Spain.

Materials for this collection were acquired by Southwest Museum and Library staff or through various Library donations. The donations include some of the Library's earliest donors, such as Charles Fletcher Lummis, Joseph Amasa Munk, and George Wharton James. This is an open collection and new materials added are predominately in the English language. When deemed appropriate, individual items from this collection have been or will be moved to another manuscript collection or cataloged individually and added to the monograph collection.

1122 Linear Feet (103 document boxes, 3 oversized flatboxes)

Copyright has not been assigned to the Autry Museum of the American West. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Research Services and Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Autry Museum of the American West as the custodian of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Appointments to view materials are required. To make an appointment please visit https://theautry.org/research-collections/library-and-archives and fill out the Researcher Application Form.