The Biographical/autobiographical material series consists of autobiographical reminiscences written by Spencer in 1959 and 1973, also accumulated clippings, personnel documents, two transcribed interviews, and other items containing biographical information.
The Chronological series consists of letters and other papers from Spencer's career that have been brought together and arranged chronologically.
Subject files are those records kept by Spencer and relating to specific phases or periods in his career. Of note are files pertaining to his suit against the Ohio State News, an African American newspaper that had charged Spencer in his capacity as employee relations officer at Patterson Field with discriminating against members of his own race. This series also contains a transcript of the testimony taken in 1953 before the Security Hearing Board that resulted from the charges placed against Spencer that he was a security risk.
The Sound Recordings date from 1970 to 1974 and consist of six cassettes. Included are a conversation with his mother, poet Anne Spencer; recordings with Al Dunmore, Alexander Jefferson, Ray Spann, Wardell Polk, and Chauncey Spencer concerning the condition of blacks in the armed forces; recording of actor-singer Clarence Muse; and a recitation (by Frank Silvera) of works of black poets.
1 audiocassettes (Audiocassettes)
(Duration: 00:12:47)
Visual Materials includes both photographs, videocassettes, and video recordings. The photographs consist of personal and family portraits and photographs reflecting his interest in aviation and his career in the military. The videotapes consist of interview with Spencer, the 50th anniversary reunion of his high school class in Virginia, and the ceremony when his mother's home was designated a historic landmark in 1976.