This collection consists mainly of materials relating to the East Lansing Planning Commission. The donor, James H. Denison, was a member from its founding in 1958, serving as Vice-Chairman from 1958 to 1961 and as its Chairman from 1962 to 1968.

Minutes of the meetings of the Planning Commission are complete from 1958 to June, 1969, including minutes of several sub-committee meetings. Planning studies done by the Commission and several done for it by outside consultant firms deal with such problems as creating the Central Business District Zone (CBD) and the allied problems of streets, parking, and capital improvements. A large portion relates directly to the CBD but zoning, parking, and park lands throughout the city of East Lansing are included. Two other major projects reported on were long range studies of the domicile preferences of Michigan State University faculty and staff, and creation of a reasonable set of subdivision regulations. Also included is the comprehensive plan of East Lansing in 1980. Finally, there is the Commission Handbook.

The collection also includes some East Lansing City Council minutes and minutes from the Tri-County Planning Commission. Many advisory studies from the Tri-County, the State of Michigan and Michigan State University, used by the East Lansing Planning Commission are in the collection. There are also several pamphlets of a miscellaneous nature.