The correspondence, which incorporates about two-thirds of the collection, concerns a wide variety of issues.
Early correspondence focuses on the architectural competition for the riverfront memorial.
Correspondence from architect Eero Saarinen can be found for the period 1948 to 1960. It details Saarinen's concerns for maintaining his original concepts for the Memorial, zoning, and railroad relocation plans. Correspondence between March and May of 1951 pertains to the death of Luther Ely Smith, the driving force behind the Memorial project. Other topics discussed include authorization of JNEM, appropriations, and the 1953 Louisiana Purchase Sesquicentennial. This correspondence also concerns the construction and dedication of the Gateway Arch.