The collection is arranged into 17 series: Biographical Materials; Personal Papers; Correspondence; Speeches; Publications; Biographical Files; National Agrol Co.; Verdurin Co.; patents; Research Notebooks; Reports/Hearings; History of American Chemical Industry; Subject Files; Audio / Visual materials; Ephemera; Microfilm; and Oversized material. The series are summarized below.

BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS Newspaper clippings, bibliographic lists, publications, autobiographical passages, commemorative papers and other materials providing biographical information on William Hale. Arranged alphabetically.

PERSONAL PAPERS Tied to the biographical series, this material contains personal correspondence, commemorative items, invitations and sketches. Two important sections include copies of the publishing contracts for Hale's books and letters/telegrams of condolence on the passing of William J. Hale in 1955. Arranged alphabetically.

ICORRESPONDENCE Primarily composed of business correspondence between Hale and various individuals concerning his commercial and personal research interests after leaving Dow. Main topic of interest is the development of the use of chlorophyll as a means to bettering health by way of improved foods. Arranged alphabetically by correspondent.

SPEECHES Collection of speeches delivered by Hale over the course of his career. The processing archivist maintained the order of the numbered folders in which Hale kept his speech files. Some speeches are dated and have notation of occasion of speech. Some speeches are duplicates and/or are slightly altered for place where speech was presented. At the end of the numeric list is a collection of non-numbered speeches arranged alphabetically. They were contained in non-numbered folders and could very well slip into the gaps in the numbered list, though there is no clear indication they fit completely. Arranged numerically by Hale assigned speech and number, then alphabetically by folder title of non-numbered folders.

PUBLICATIONS Articles and excerpts from larger works on various organic chemistry and chemurgic subjects. The majority are written by Hale, with some co-authored by Hale. Included in this series are reviews and letters on Chemivision and Farm Chemurgic. Arranged alphabetically.

BIOGRAPHICAL FILES Three folders of biographical materials Hale collected on Willard H. Dow, Henry Luce, and Fielding Harris Yost. Folders may contain correspondence. Arranged alphabetically.

NATIONAL AGROL CO. Materials reflecting Hale's involvement in the National Agrol Co. These files contain correspondence, reports, memoranda, publications, licensing and production agreements with foodstuff manufacturing companies. Also contains information on incorporation, patent applications, and stock development. Arranged alphabetically.

VERDURIN CO. This series marks Hale's involvement in the Verdurin Co. It also contains materials pertaining to business function following Hale's death. These business records include articles of incorporation, annual reports, bank statements, correspondence, ledgers, accounting records, business agreements, and advertisements. Arranged alphabetically.

PATENTS A collection of summaries, applications, farms, correspondence and other related materials for patents held in fields and processes in relation to activity within the Chemurgic movement. Included are patent materials for the National Agrol Co., The Verdurin Co., Larus and Brother Co., as well as other processes and products involving Hale outside of these companies. Arranged Alphabetically.

RESEARCH NOTEBOOKS Personal research notebooks William Hale kept periodically through the years 1919-1935. In the back of the 1935 notebook is a personal diary with varying amounts of information for the years 1935-1954. Arranged chronologically.

REPORTS/HEARINGS Published copy of testimony or reports given by Hale on Chemurgic related subjects. Arranged alphabetically.

HISTORY OF AMERICAN CHEMICAL INDUSTRY Hale initiated this project intended to chronicle the history of the American Chemical Industry in six volumes compiled by William Haynes and published by D. Van Nostrand Co. of New York. Hale called it a "scientific historical masterpiece." This series contains mostly correspondence with William Haynes. Arranged chronologically.

SUBJECT FILES General files maintained by Hale on a wide range of subjects - with heavy emphasis on chemistry, organic chemistry and chemurgy. Widely examined subjects include alcohol, cancer, chlorophyll, cigarettes and photosynthesis. Materials include notes, papers, reports, articles, advertisements, and correspondence. Arranged alphabetically.

AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS Photographic images of Hale with friends, family and colleagues as well as advertisements, reprints and awards.

Following the series arranged material are ephemera - personal items belonging to Hale. The collection contains one reel of microfilm of family scrapbooks chronicling activities in Hale and his family's lives between 1918 and 1954. The family maintains ownership and physical custody of the scrapbooks. There is also a list of oversized materials, mainly maps and large news articles.