The Hideya Kumata papers consist primarily of materials related to Kumata’s job as a professor of communications. The majority of these materials are undated.

The bulk of these papers consists of original research data that Kumata used when working on papers, such as anonymous surveys, tests, and computer printouts processing survey data. Most of the research data is undated. The only date found indicated some of the computer printouts were from 1966.

In addition to research data, the collection contains materials Kumata used for class, such as tests and syllabi, some correspondence, handwritten notes on various topics, material from seminars and conferences Kumata attended, and drafts of papers and books he was working on. Much of this material is also undated.

The collection also contains a Nisei Attitudes survey conducted by the Nisei Kyokai Board and Hideya Kumata of the International Communication Center at MSU. Nisei is a term used to describe children born to Japanese who have emigrated to new countries, and in this case, in the United States. Nisei were asked to participate in the survey for research purposes.