Correspondence, memoranda, reports, minutes, and related printed materials from the office files of Dalton, reflecting his professional activities in the fields of American and international librarianship from 1940 to 1976. The major areas of interest are library education, especially foreign students; the Dewey Decimal Classification and its publisher, the Forest Press; the American Library Association, particularly its Reference Service Division's Bibliography Committee; the Council of National Library Associations; Franklin Book Programs; the International Federation of Library Associations; the National Book Committee; and WHO'S WHO IN LIBRARY SERVICE.

Series II deals chiefly with Dalton's position as Director of the Library Development Center, 1970-1976, documenting the activities of the Center, its consultation reports, and studies. In addition there are files concerning the American Library Association Board of Education for Librarianship, 1953-1954, and other miscellaneous professional topics.