This collection was compiled by Reed Massengill during the research and publication of his book, Portrait of a Racist. Much of the early research was furnished by mail by Byron de la Beckwith through his jail correspondence with Massengill, and by Massengill's aunt, Mary Louise Williams, who was Beckwith's first wife.

The collection includes FBI records concerning Beckwith's movements released to the subject at his request; court transcripts and records of each of trial Beckwith was involved with; newspaper clippings, editorial cartoons, magazine and scholarly articles collected by Massengill; original writings by Beckwith and others; correspondence and interviews gathered from Beckwith's and William's personal collections as well as news and archival sources; Massengill's correspondence with peers and publishers; photographs and negatives of book and interview subjects; and interviews conducted by Massengill on VHS and Audio tapes.