This collection consists primarily of a series of letters that Alex Haley wrote to Waller B. and Elaine S. Wiser between May of 1968 and February of 1975. Also included are clippings and reviews of Roots dating from 1968 to 1996.

This collection houses an undated manuscript of Alex Haley's Working Report: Before This Anger. This item features an account of some of Haley's travels in West Africa (with photographs) and Haley's genealogy. Also included are two biographical sketches describing Haley and a personal memoir and description of Haley's intent for this work.

The collection houses two letters that Alex Haley wrote to Dr. Willard C. Goley in April of 1973 and August of 1974 in addition to a photocopy of an article entitled "In His Roots Search Alex Haley Feels His Link."

This collection houses notes, outlines, bibliographies, research, and legal papers documenting Alex Haley's Roots through 1977. Of particular interest are the items showing Harold Courlander's lawsuit against Haley, Doubleday & Company, and various affiliated groups.

This collection contains a manuscript copy of David Chioni Moore's 1994 essay entitled, "Revisiting a Silenced Giant: Alex Haley's Roots: A Bibliographic Essay, and Research Report on the Haley Archives at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville." Moore's article was later published in Resources for American Library Study, 22 (Summer 1996): 195-249.