The Hugh L. Gordon Papers range from 1951 to 2009, with the bulk dating from 1966 to 1989. The majority of the documents were created by Gordon during the course of his duties as Director of Personnel at Lockheed-Georgia (GELAC), as well as Regional Executive for Region 4 of the National Alliance of Businessmen (NAB) and leadership positions with the Private Industry Council of Atlanta, Inc. (PIC) and the Atlanta Employer’s Voluntary Merit Employment Association (AEVMEA). In addition, the Gordon Papers include material generated as part of the creation of the collection. The Hugh L. Gordon Papers contains seven sub series: Correspondence; Atlanta Employer’s Voluntary Merit Employment Association; Interviews (2000-2008); Lockheed-Georgia Company (1951-2002); National Alliance of Business (1956-2001); Private Industry Council of Atlanta, Inc. (1968-1992); and Writings (1971-2006).

Correspondence (1974-2008) consists of letters and e-mail printouts between Hugh Gordon and individuals, as well as representatives of research institutions. The bulk of the correspondence deals with research for Gordon’s book project. The Atlanta Employer’s Voluntary Merit Employment Association (1965-2007) sub-series contains correspondence, minutes, publications, and reports generated as part of the day-to-day activities of the organization. Of interest to researchers is the sound recording and transcript of the luncheon meeting at the Dinkler Plaza Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, on August 12, 1966. Speakers included Whitney M. Young, Jr., President of the National Urban League from 1961 to 1971. In his address, Young encouraged business leaders to get involved with the civil rights movement as a matter of their own “enlightened self interest.” The majority of the Interviews (2000-2008) sub-series is made up of sound recordings of interviews conducted by Gordon, as part of his research. They are organized by subject areas to provide organizational or biographical background. The sub-series also includes written transcripts of the interviews with J. Joseph Kruse conducted by Gordon in 2001 and 2002. The Lockheed-Georgia Company (1951-2002) sub-series is organized by format. It contains items regarding Lockheed’s implementation of affirmative action programs, as well as related materials. The bulk of the National Alliance of Business (1968-2001) sub-series deals with Gordon’s responsibilities as Regional Executive for Region 4 of the organization, which included Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. It is organized by format and activity. In addition to Gordon’s correspondence, the sub-series contains a folder of photocopied communications (Feb-Jun 1978) from the files of Jack R. Fitzpatrick, Senior Vice President of Operations for the NAB. The Private Industry Council of Atlanta, Inc. (1968-1992) sub-series relates to Gordon’s activities in the Atlanta PIC, including his role in its founding in 1978, and is organized by format. The Writings (1971-2006) sub-series contains Gordon’s book proposals arranged chronologically. It also includes a caption for a photograph of the signing of the first Plans for Progress pact featuring Lockheed Chairman Courtlandt Gross on May 25, 1961, as well as a collection of autobiographical items.