The correspondence series is large and varied. It includes correspondence on: the "Basis for Consultation" mostly an analysis of past Grail policies by nucleus members with suggestions on how they might be improved; the "Draft Statement on the Nucleus," primarily drafts with comments or letters of explanation; a file of correspondence with Grail leaders (e.g. National or International Presidents, National Board). Also included is a very small file dealing with "Last Will and Testament" correspondence which helped set up a standard practice for comparing wills for nucleus members if they desired the Grail's assistance in the matter; and a "Record of Mailing" file, which is simply correspondence with directions on where, in what form, when, and to whom mailings should go. Finally, there is a very small file by the Nucleus Study Group "Wider Horizons." By and large most of the file consists of form letters with the "Basis for Consultation" subseries being the most notable exception. The material is arranged chronologically within subseries.
The meetings series consists of material produced or relating to U.S. or International nucleus meetings. Within each meeting file there are reference files, correspondence and reports about particular meetings.
In most instances the material is filed chronologically within one folder by meeting date. Other meetings have sufficient material to warrant dividing them into record types. The records are arranged chronologically by meeting date and chronologically with each folder or record type.
Committees: This series contains material on specific committees, set up to study a specific issue rather than the broad issue concerns of the general nucleus meetings. The material ranges from correspondence, to reports to suggestions and evaluations. The material is grouped first by committee, then arranged chronologically within each folder.
Formation Files: This series contains transcribed talks, outlines of course, discussions, programs and minutes of meetings held with nucleus members in training. Also included is a file on possible doctors and groups to employ for the psychological testing of prospective nucleus members. Material is arranged chronologically by date of meeting or program and chronologically within each folder.
The Statistics series consists of background information about nucleus members including name, address, education and how long they have been in contact with the Grail. This subseries is divided into national and international members and arranged alphabetically. Other statistics contained in this series are lists of members, dates of dedication, birthdays, occupations, and education to name a few. This information is arranged chronologically by list The final segment of this file includes personal data lists on prospective nucleus candidates. Included are names, addresses, ages, education, work experience, how long they have been in contact with the Grail and qualities that would or would not make them a good nucleus member. The lists, with several different people on them, are arranged chronologically.
Documents: This series contains photocopies of all (pre 1972) signed nucleus members' "solemn promise" upon their dedication to the Grail nucleus. The originals were sent to the International Grail Headquarters. The material is divided into "released" members and present members (as of February 1972), then alphabetically within each group.
Financial Reportsf: This series contains general miscellaneous nucleus financial reports. Also included are individual budgets and estimates of income submitted by each nucleus member. See General Financial Records for more information. The material is arranged chronologically except for the individual budgets which are arranged alphabetically.
Liturgies: A small file consisting largely of Dedication Ceremonies, both the religious service and the informal introductory letters sent out before hand by each candidate. The material is arranged chronologically.
Reference File: An incomplete reference year book file of material sent to U.S. nucleus members from both the National and International Grail. The material is arranged chronologically.
Scrapbook: This series contains a single scrapbook from the Scottish Grail to the first twelve Americans to make their nucleus dedication. Included are drawings, quotes from Scripture and notes of encouragement to each of the twelve new members.
Retreats: A file of scattered schedules and minutes of retreats given for nucleus members at Grailville in 1964. The material is arranged chronologically.
Excerpts: A very small series made up of typed excerpts from talks by Grail members or talks of interest given to nucleus members. The material is arranged chronologically.
Forms: This series contains blank forms used by the Grail to collect general statistical and health information about individual nucleus members The file is arranged alphabetically by type of form.
A large inclusive unit of records which are the administrative files of the U.S. Grail movement. Until the late 1960s, Grailville files were also included with this unit. After this point the Grail and Grailville were treated as separate units. The file has been divided into major series of Administration, National Council, National Meetings, Committees, Miscellaneous Teams and Groups, Interest Areas, Special Projects, Aggiornamentao Year, Correspondence, Reports to the International, International, Membership, Statistics / Tests, Finances, History of the Grail, Designs / Symbols, Prayers / Liturgy and the Oral History Project. See individual files and Grailville files for additional information as well as material on other countries and regional files.
Administration: This series primarily consists of material from the late 1960s on. Included are evaluations, correspondence, minutes, agendas, reports, lists, structures, job descriptions, office policy and procedures, organization, office personnel, and miscellaneous material. Most files are incomplete, form letter files with the exception of the "Evaluations" subseries which is a survey of how involved people believed they were with the Grail and was really meant to be a mailing list update. Material arranged chronologically, except for "Evaluations" which are arranged alphabetically.
The National Council series contains, in large part, material on individual meetings such as: minutes, correspondence, agendas and reports. Also included in the series is a small correspondence and miscellaneous file. The material is arranged chronologically by date of meeting and is divided into record types if there is enough material to warrant it. The material is arranged chronologically within record type.
National Meetings: This series is very similar to the national council series in the material it contains, including correspondence, minutes, agendas, reports, evaluations and reference files. The series is divided into years; arranged chronologically around the annual meetings; divided into record types, if enough material is present; and arranged chronologically within each record type.
Committees: This is a large series containing the records of numerous, short-lived or defunct committees. Included in this series are the Executive Committee, National Staff Planning Committee, the Coordinating Committee and Finance Committee to name a few. The records consist of agendas, minutes, correspondence, reports, reference files, resource material, evaluations and miscellaneous materials. The records are grouped by committee and within each committee by record type or subject, then chronologically within each division.
The Teams and Groups unit is actually a number of miscellaneous units developed to investigate problems and areas of ongoing concern to Grail, or to perform an administrative or counseling task for a Grail function. included are the Participation Core Team, Movement Development Team, Continuity Team, Communications Team, Finance Link Team, Professional Group, Married Women's Group, Lateral Sharing Group and other miscellaneous work groups. The material is grouped first by team, group or work group, then by record type or subject and finally either chronologically or alphabetically within each record type or subject.
Many of the subseries in the Interest Area series were actually former councils of the 1950s, for instance, included are the Christian Culture Council, the Family and Community Council, the Drama Council, and the Religious Education Council. Other subseries act more as a subject file of Grail interests at a particular time, for instance, Film Production, PAVLA Project, Racism, and Religious Search Seminars. Within these subseries are reports, agendas, minutes, correspondence, resource material, questionnaires, scrapbooks, talks and other miscellaneous material. The series is first divided into subseries by council, committee or project name and arranged alphabetically. The subseries are further divided into record types and each record type then arranged either chronologically or alphabetically.
Special Projects consist of one-time, experimental or unique programs, sponsored or attended by the Grail or Grail members. Included within this series are such projects as the Akhmim project (a Grail sponsored weaving project in Egypt), Eucharistic Congress, (YWCA) Convocation on Racism, and World Day of Prayer to name a few. See also Courses / Program series for additional information.
Courses / Programs: This series contains examples of courses or programs sponsored by the Grail for Grail members only or for the general public. See the Courses / Programs unit for additional materials. The material is grouped by course / program then divided into record type and arranged chronologically.
Aggiornamento Year: This series is a collection of material relating to the administration of the Grail Aggiornamento process in the mid 1960s. Included are research papers, correspondence, discussion transcripts, guidelines and miscellaneous material. Additional material may be located under other administrative units both national and international. Material arranged chronologically with each record type.
Scrapbooks: Contained in the scrapbook series are numerous publicity scrapbooks, as well as a few incomplete, pseudo reference yearbook files. Material arranged chronologically.
News Clippings: A very small file of news items. Arranged chronologically.
The correspondence series is a collection of correspondence between national Grail leaders and the U.S. Catholic hierarchy. The bulk of the series is general movement mailings. The material is arranged chronologically within the subseries.
Report to the International: Most often reports of progress and problems the U.S. Grail faces. Arranged chronologically.
International: This series is a small collection of the interaction between the International and the U.S. Grail. More substantial information may be obtained from the International Secretariate Unit and specific U.S. Administrative Units. Arranged by record type and chronologically within each type.
Membership: The bulk of this file is an information file on U.S. Grail participants, Americans overseas and friends of the Grail. This information was used as a mailing list update. The material is grouped into "U.S.A. Participation," "Americans Overseas" and "Friends of the Grail" and arranged alphabetically within each group.
Statistics / Lists: General information lists are the major components of this series. Material is divided into list subject and arranged chronologically.
Finances: Material consists of Reports and Budgets for miscellaneous Grail units. Additional information can be found in the General Financial Records and individual unit files. Arranged chronologically.
History of the Grail: A miscellaneous collection of facts about the Grail. Material is divided into subject and arranged chronologically.
Designs / Symbols: Scattered, rough draft drawings of possible Grail logos.
Prayers / Liturgy: A very small collection of miscellaneous prayers or liturgies used by the Grail. Arranged chronologically.
Oral History Project: A single file on the 1982 project of preparing oral histories of the early U.S. Grail members. See "Audio Tapes" for additional information. Material arranged chronologically.