Collection includes records relating to the formation and development of the Gulf Coast Council on Foreign Affairs and its successor organizations, the Gulf Coast World Affairs Council, and the Houston World Affairs Council. Documents reveal the administrative processes by which the organizations were governed and the various programs and events sponsored by the organizations. Such events include an array of invited speakers, some of considerable note, and trips to various countries, designed to facilitate international understanding and cross cultural experiences.

Collection arrangement follows the trajectory of the three sequentially evolving organizations. Materials generally follow chronological order within sub-series such as Administration, Business Activities, Correspondence, Financial Records, Membership, Programs, and World Affairs Press Coverage.