The RKO and media series dates from 1946-1976 and is primarily composed of reference files of newspaper clippings, relating to the general operations of RKO, the Stolking sale, the $23.5 million sale of RKO stock, and the purchase of RKO by Thomas F. O’Neil in 1955. It also contains a substantial amount of material about the United States v. Paramount Pictures, Inc. antitrust case before the Supreme Court known as the “Divorcement,” which ended the studio system. Other suits that feature less prominently in the materials are the 1954 RKO Anti-trust suit and a number of suits brought by actors. HUAC hearings, American Legion Anti-Communist crusade, communism in Hollywood and Howard Hughes’ reaction to the perceived threat of communism in Hollywood all feature prominently in the material of this series.

Among the reference files there are a large number of files on the leading entertainers, film production companies, Radio-Television stations, newspapers, magazines, and columnists from 1949-1976. Also included in the series are production requests sent to Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation by RKO (1950-1953), a number of scandal and movie magazines from the 1950s and 1960s, and memos about media subscriptions from Hughes Productions.

The series on Howard Hughes’ personal life dates from 1941-1987 and is primarily composed of reference files of newspaper clippings that document Howard Hughes’ life as an aviation leader, studio owner, philanthropist, and Las Vegas developer. His moves to Managua, Nicaragua, Vancouver, British Columbia, London, England, the Bahamas, and Acapulco, Mexico near the end of his life are also well documented as are his ex-wives, death, and the legal fight for his estate. The series also includes transcripts of radio and television interviews, magazine articles, and books about Hughes. There are also a number of biographies on Hughes, press releases, and correspondence between between Carl Byoir & Associates staff and individuals or organizations.

The Watergate series dates from 1960-1976 and is composed entirely of reference files of newspaper clippings that document the Senate hearings, impeachment vote, and resignation of the President Richard M. Nixon. Hughes’ political contributions and financial ties to the president’s brother, Donald Nixon and other key figures are also contained in the series.

The photographs and audiovisual material series dates from 1934-1997 and is primarily composed of photographs, slides, and negatives. It also contains two unlabeled magnetic audio tape reels and one unlabeled short color film reel.

Many images in the series feature Howard Hughes along with the planes he used to set speed and endurance records. The series also contains images of the Hughes Flying Boat (H-4), XF-11, Hughes blimp, and other non-aviation operations. Also documented are several Hughes production plants and offices and RKO promotional images of motion picture scenes and movie stars. There are a smaller number of large photographs featuring Hughes properties and executives meeting in Las Vegas, circa 1969.

The Summa Corporation and Nevada series dates from 1955-1976 and is composed almost entirely of reference files of newspaper clippings that contain materials related to Las Vegas and Nevada, hotels and casinos in Las Vegas, Las Vegas in general, and mining operations primarily in Nevada as well as materials about the Summa Corporation operations and Atomic Energy Commission.

The subject file series dates from 1948-1976 and is composed almost entirely of reference files of newspaper clippings, except for a file composed of world, regional, and state maps. The reference files in this series cover a wide range of topics of interest to Howard Hughes and his companies.

The chronological newspaper clippings series dates from 1946-1976 is composed entirely of reference files of newspaper clippings that are organized only by date.