The DFMS archive on the American Church Institute (ACI) is largely focused on the years 1906 through 1967, although documentation on individual schools dates from 1867 (see AO-00-R0061-02-12). The collection represents a reasonably comprehensive record of ACI during its lifetime and, in most cases, a much briefer synopsis of the life of each of the individual schools, although student rosters and academic records are not present. The overall ACI administrative records consist of minutes, reports, legal and financial documents, correspondence, historical summaries, building plans, studies, surveys, publications, photographs, and ACIN's corporate seal. Records of the individual schools include copies of minutes of the boards of trustees, reports, correspondence, financial documents, institutional histories, personnel records, and publicity materials.

This set of records contains by-laws of the school (1892, 1937) and records of the school’s Board of Trustees, including meeting minutes and correspondence (1940-1944), annual reports (1919-1921), and reports to the National Council (1933, 1941). Also present is considerable correspondence by the ACI Director (1940-1945) and Treasurer (1939-1944) on school matters. Financial records (1940-1945) and Calhoun pamphlets (1905, 1937) complete the series.