The Correspondence series covers general correspondence, correspondence with participants and volunteers, and memorandums. The materials are arranged chronologically, with e-mail correspondence arranged at the end of the series. This series gives an overview of the organization's structure, program concerns and issues, program updates, and other general matters. The correspondence begins with a discussion on applying for a charter and ends with a look at the organization's disbandment. A close connection to the national office in New York is observed, as they guided Columbia's chapter throughout the years. The collection illustrates all of the duties of the chapter, such as fund raising, outreach and recruiting, scholarship initiatives, public relations and promotions, and support to teachers, principals, parents, and students. Included in the correspondence are letters from Valeska Henschke, an Australian exchange student, and her Columbia host family after she returned home. This series also contains memorandums with information on meetings, student selection chairperson duties, application, placement, and orientation processes, and a registration database project.

The Administrative series is arranged topically. This series contains examples and explanations of administrative forms, financial information, and guidebooks and handbooks. The financial information includes handwritten notes and ledgers, formal financial statements, officer rosters, and information on their tax exempt status.

The Chapter series consists of materials documenting the Columbia chapter's activities and is arranged alphabetically by topic and then chronologically. Activities such as meetings, programs, reunion weekends, and bus trips are discussed. Other chapter information includes start-up packets, lists of participants, future recruitment lists and strategies, and orientation information.

The National series is comprised of material written by the national office. This series is arranged alphabetically by topic and then chronologically. The series includes information on AFS, study abroad opportunities and statistics, federal regulations, fund raising, case studies, program concerns, and scholarship information and forms. The statistics cover a variety of topics such as how funds are distributed, program fees, and the numbers of students going abroad.

The Participant series focuses on individuals involved with and directly affected by the organization. The participants include students, teachers, parents, principals, and hosts. AFS is a volunteer organization and the level of involvement and commitment of the participants is very evident in this series. This series is arranged by topic.

The Publications series is comprised of newsletters, magazines, brochures, leaflets, posters, and promotional direct mailings. The newsletters and magazines cover local, state, and nationwide audiences. The series is arranged alphabetically by serial title, and then chronologically within the title. Non-serial public relations and promotional materials, such as posters and brochures, are arranged after the newsletters.

The Photographs series dates from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s. The photographs depict AFS participants, host families, volunteers, and Optimist Club of Columbia members. There are pictures of participants arriving and departing, gatherings at host family homes, and meetings at the Optimist Club. Most of the individuals pictured are not identified.

The Miscellaneous series includes newspaper clippings from the Columbia Missourian and the Columbia Daily Tribune. The articles are primarily about the AFS program, foreign exchange students, and announcements of meetings and recruitment advertisements. Information on Columbia's Cosmopolitan Club, whose members supported AFS, includes the club's constitution and roster from 1990. The Optimist Club of Columbia files include thank you letters for donations and continued support to AFS. Other items in this series are returnee speeches, directories and yearbooks of AFS students, and information for a similar program called Youth Exchange Service, Inc.

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