Personal is divided into two sub-subseries, “In” and “Out”; again, it is likely that this arrangement was created at the University of South Carolina. The “In” sub-subseries (1946–1951) is a mixture of true personal and uncategorized official correspondence, mainly to Thurmond, but there are also letters to William Lowndes Daniel, Jr. and Jean Crouch Thurmond. Material contained in this subseries includes articles, clippings, correspondence, memos, petitions, photographs, postcards, promotional materials, reports, copies of speeches and statements and telegrams. Because some “official” correspondence is included in this subseries, the researcher should also check the Official subseries for related material. Related material may also be found in the Campaigns subseries and Speeches as well.

Announcements of law firm openings, weddings and high school graduations were removed from “In” before filming, unless there was an indication that Governor Thurmond attended the event or had a close relationship with the individual(s) involved. Declined invitations were also removed. A sample of letters requesting appointment as a notary public was retained; other routine requests (e.g., for South Carolina tourist information) were removed. Many enclosures are missing–clippings and articles are probably part of the Scrapbooks, while other material was sent to the “Research Department.”

Some of the topics in this sub-subseries include agriculture, African-Americans and voting, airports, Clemson University, displaced persons (refugees), education, election reform, gambling, legislation, liquor and temperance, oil, race relations, railroad freight transportation rates, rural electrification, state and national politics, the 1948 States’ Rights campaign and Thurmond’s World War II service. A 1948 letter from the Woman’s International Exposition has attachments that list Governor Thurmond’s female appointees.

Also included in this sub-subseries are two files of memos (1947–1948) to Governor Thurmond from William Lowndes Daniel, Jr., files on his inauguration and another on his 1947 wedding to Jean Crouch which contains congratulatory correspondence, cards, telegrams, a list of wedding guests and “prominent congratulators.”

Correspondents in this sub-subseries include William P. Baskin, Mary Thurmond Bishop, Edgar Brown, Walter Brown, James F. Byrnes, Cedric Foster, Billy Graham, W. G. (“Grady”) Hazel, P. B. Holtzendorff, Jr., J. Edgar Hoover, Beverly Howard, Robert M. Kennedy, Jr., C. P. Key, William A. Kimbel, Calhoun Lemon, Bruce Littlejohn, J. C. Littlejohn, Thomas R. Miller, E. W. Montgomery, Robert F. Poole, David W. Robinson, Ruth Roettinger, C. E. Sasser, Aaron Schwartz, Norma F. Shannonhouse, Alex S. Sharpton, Nell Simpson, William G. Sirrine, D. A. Skinner, Herman Talmadge, L. Marie Taylor, Robert and Mary Tompkins, Frank A. Tompkins, Allan George Thurmond, John William and Elizabeth Thurmond, Jr., Eleanor Gertrude Thurmond, Mamie Norris Tillman, George Bell Timmerman, Jr., Sidney S. Tison, Harry Truman, Cornelia Dabney Tucker, Grady L. Wade, Sam T. Watkins, Bob Weeks, Rev. John S. Wimbish, J. M. Wise, Caldwell Withers, Major General Edward F. Witsell, Julian S. Wolfe, Roland F. Wooton and Jessie W. Wylie.

“Out” (1946–1951) is similar to Official “Out” in that it consists mainly of replies to correspondence in Personal “In” prepared by the Governor and his staff, has many of the same staff members frequently appearing (except for Mary B. Williams), may contain some incoming correspondence filed with the related outgoing material and includes drafts and telegrams. Material is filed the same way as Personal “In”. Some outgoing letters from Jean Crouch Thurmond appear here.