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 collection documents Jones’ service to The Episcopal Church from his early career as a rector in Texas parishes through his retirement as the fourth Bishop of West Texas. Materials include sermons, newspaper columns, and lectures. The collection also contains collected articles, publications, research materials and meeting materials related to his involvement with Alcoholics Anonymous and his founding of the first AA chapter in San Antonio.

The ACI series relating to St. Philip’s School is primarily the ACI director’s correspondence (1921-1937), which details the reasons that St. Philip’s was never made an official ACI school. St. Philip’s publications providing historical background include a brochure (c.1920s) and Opportunity (1923-1924, 1929). Documents relating to ACI’s financial appropriations to the school (1921, 1923, 1931, n.d.), correspondence of the Bishop of West Texas (1921-1922), and a report of an evaluative visit to the school (1926) complete this set of records.