The Desert Protective Council Records (1938-2016) document the operations of the Desert Protective Council and various environmental causes across the United States. The collection consists of correspondence, publications related to environmental projects, news clippings, newsletters, and topical files. The collection is divided into three series: Administrative Files, Publications, and Topical Files.

The Administrative Files series is divided into six sub-series: Meeting Minutes, Membership and Elections, Educational Outreach Program Materials, Correspondence, Photographs and Scrapbooks, and Awards. Meeting Minutes (1954-2013) include Desert Protective Council and California State Parks and Recreation Board of Directors minutes, which often contain both the draft and official copies. Meeting minutes are arranged alphabetically and chronologically. The Membership and Elections (1955-2006) sub-series contains files documenting the administration of the Desert Protective Council and includes election ballots, membership rosters, and the treasurer and secretary's notebooks. Educational Outreach Program Materials (2004-2015) consist of student projects and quizzes, student and parent testimonials, and detailed information about various educational field trips and sponsored projects. The Correspondence subseries is organized alphabetically by last name of at least one of the correspondents, and consists of correspondence between various Desert Protective Council board members, though there are some letters to and from government officials as well. The Photographs and Scrapbooks (1954-2012) sub-series includes slides, photographs, and scrapbooks documenting Desert Protective Council activities. Awards (1956-2009) consists of various plaques and certificates related to the preservation of the environment and includes awards both from the Desert Protective Council and from external organizations to Desert Protective Council Members.

The Publications Series is the largest of the three series in the collection and is divided into six sub-series: Bureau of Land Management, Desert Bighorn Council, General Environmental Reports, Newsletters and Pamphlets, Newspapers, and Newspaper Clippings. All sub-series are organized alphabetically and chronologically. The Bureau of Land Management sub-series consists of documents published by the Bureau of Land Management regarding proposed environmental projects. The sub-series is further divided into Environmental Impact Reports and Statements (1974-2012) and General Bureau of Land Management Publications (1962-2004). Environmental Impact Reports and Statements consists of drafts and final copies of official Bureau of Land Management impact reports, which range in topic from wilderness designations, to wind energy projects, to the California Desert Plan implementation. The General Bureau of Land Management Publications sub-series contains other documents and reports published by the Bureau of Land Management that is not EIRs. Similarly, Desert Bighorn Council sub-series consists of reports published by the Desert Bighorn Council between 1957-1974 and mostly deals with "transactions": publications detailing the number and preservation of bighorn sheep among the American West and Mexico. General Environmental Reports (1938-2005) consist of publications and documents similar to those within the first two sub-series, but published by other agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, The Sierra Club, San Diego Gas and Electric, and more. The Newsletters and Pamphlets (1955-2016) sub-series includes Desert Protective Council Newsletters "El Paisano" and "Educational Bulletins," as well as pamphlets, newsletters, and brochures published by various environmental non-profits, charities, government agencies, and museums. Newspapers (1962-1995) mainly includes editions of "High Country News," with numerous local and specialty papers as well. The Newspaper Clippings subseries (1957-2000) is organized chronologically and consists entirely of cut-out articles dealing with environmental topics.

The Topical Files (1950-2014) are also quite expansive. Organized alphabetically, this series overlaps with a number of other series, containing numerous files with detailed notes and supplemental documents regarding organizational documents, governmental publications, and environmental projects. Although not delineated into sub-series, individual files may be labeled according to a topic before the actual title. For example, correspondence related to the Barstow - Las Vegas Off-Roading Race is filed under "Off-Roading: Barstow - Las Vegas: Correspondence."

copy two, with notes