The Gordon L. and Phyllis M. Thomas collection contains articles about Gordon Thomas' election and time on the East Lansing City Council and as mayor, a small amount of correspondence, City of East Lansing annual reports, articles and two letters about Civil Rights, as well as articles and biographical information related to his time at Michigan State University. There are also photographs of Gordon Thomas.

The Phyllis Thomas materials contain articles, drafts, and notes for the East Lansing Town Courier articles she wrote, including an article about East Lansing religion and civil rights. Other topics include profiles on Mrs. Edward Thomas, Truman A. Morrison, Jerome V. MacEachin, Sally Swiss, Ray Krider, historic houses, Margot Evans' art show, Virginia Hutcheson and Cap and Gown Series, Helen Hendrickson, Louise Carpenter Adventure in World Understanding, James J. McCleary, Pat Brogan, Albert Vasils, Ellen Ferency, Raymond Campbell, Mrs. Baker (Central Elementary school principal).