The records cover the period 1976-1993, although the majority of the records date from 1985-1993. Many sections of the archive are complete - minutes of the Executive Committee, 1985-1993; annual reports, 1986-1993 and newsletters, 1986-1993. The archive also contains a great deal of information relating to other cancer organisations, both in this country and abroad.

Records and publications of gay organisations and individuals in the UK and worldwide, notably the records of the Albany Trust and the Homosexual Law Reform Society, later the Sexual Law Reform Society, 1950-1984; the papers of Rupert Beach, 1970-1972, mainly relating to the Gay Liberation Front; the records of Body Positive, 1985-2000, a support organisation for those diagnosed as HIV positive; the records of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality, 1940-1996; the papers of John Chesterman, 1970-1978, mainly relating to the Gay Liberation Front; the papers of Adam Christie, 1981-1998, concerning his work as an AIDS educator; the records of the Conservative Group for Homosexual Equality, later known as the Tory Campaign for Homosexual Equality (TORCHE), 1977-1993; the papers of Robert Crossman, [1970-1990], mainly comprising material relating to his work as a Labour politician; the papers of Anthony Edward Dyson, 1958, concerning the Wolfenden Report and the formation of the HLRS; records of (National) Friend, 1970-1995, a national counselling organisation for gays and bisexuals; the records of the Gay Activists Alliance, 1977-1980; the records of the Gay Christian Movement, later known as the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, 1969-1998; records of the Gay Community Organisation, 1978-1989; the records of the Gay Liberation Front, 1970-1979; the records of the Greater London Council's Gay Rights Working Party, 1976-1987; the papers of Antony Grey, 1958-1992, relating to his work in the HLRS and the Albany Trust; the records of the Joint Council for Gay Teenagers, 1970-1983; the records of the London Gay Campaign Group, 1980-1987; the papers of Christine Murray, 1972-1980, concerning women's involvement in gay activism; the records of the National Colleges of Education's Gay Rights Committee, 1971-1975; the records of the National Council for Civil Liberties, mainly relating to gay rights, 1962-1989; the papers of Robert Palmer, 1970-1983, concerning his work with CHE; the records of the Scottish Minorities Group, later known as, successively, the Scottish Homosexual Rights Group and Outright Scotland, 1970-1984; the papers of Peter Tatchell, [1970]-1999, relating to gay rights and politics; the papers of Simon Watney, [1970-1998], mainly concerning his work as an AIDS campaigner; the papers of Christopher Woods, 1983-1993, relating to gay issues. The Hall-Carpenter Archives also holds a large collection of gay, lesbian and bisexual journals, 1954-1999, collected from the UK and the rest of the world, particularly the USA; an extensive collection of ephemera, 1953-2000, relevant for the for study of gay, lesbian and bisexual history; and the administrative papers of the Archives, 1973-1994.

Papers of Body Positive, a support organisation for those diagnosed as HIV positive, 1985-2000, notably minutes of the Policy and Resources Group, 1986, the Counselling Group, 1985-1987, the Telephone Counselling Group, 1986-1987, and the Hospital Visiting Group, 1987; leaflets for the Counselling Support group, [1987]; Body Positive newsletters, 1985-2000; Body Positive (London) Gay Men's Group newsletters, 1985-2000; organisational papers, 1985-2000, including counselling rotas, correspondence and working files of Julian Meldrum, editor of the newsletter; leaflets, 1986-1987, on subjects including protected sex, counselling initiatives and regional groups.

Papers of Friend, 1970-1995, a national counselling and befriending organisation, including and incomplete set of Annual Reports, 1974-1995; minutes of the London Friend Collective, Jan-Sep 1983; incomplete set of the Annual Reports of the Campaign for Homosexual Equality, 1982-1990; material relating to the constitution of Friend, 1982-1986; papers relating to the formation of National Friend Ltd in 1987, including the memorandum and articles of association; National Friend newsletters, 1981-1982; reports, 1982-1985, on liaison visits by members of National Friend to local Friend groups in Coventry, Cardiff, West Kent, London, Bradford, Newcastle and Belfast; Friend administrative correspondence, 1971-1982, mainly concerning counselling; general correspondence between local groups and National Friend, 1978-1991, particularly concerning the organisation of conferences and the production of Annual Reports; comprehensive material relating to the activities of the affiliated local groups which make up Friend, usually working under the title of Friend or Gay Switchboard, 1973-1977 and 1982-1994, including correspondence, Annual Reports and newsletters; papers relating to specific campaigns and projects undertaken by Friend and National Friend, 1970-1988, including law reform, equal opportunities, AIDS and HIV, and opposition to Clause 28.

Papers of the Gay Christian Movement (GCM), 1969-1988, notably Annual Reports, 1980-1981 and 1984-1986; a copy of the GCM constitution, [1976]; minutes of the Annual General Meeting, 1977-[1982]; minutes of the GCM Committee, 1978-1980, and the GCM National Committee, 1978-1981, including a membership diary, 1981-1983; minutes of the Management Sub-Committee, 1981-1982, the Appeal Committee, 1980-1981, the Women's Sub-Committee, 1981, and the Evangelical Fellowship Committee, 1979-1980; copies of Gay Christian and other GCM magazines and leaflets, 1979-1986; correspondence and subject files, 1976-1987, including correspondence on international liaison and education; material relating to GCM local groups, 1970-1985, including lists of groups and convenors, correspondence, newsletters leaflets, and committee minutes; papers relating to the GCM Dartmouth Retreat, 1978; working papers and reports, 1977-1981 on subjects including worship, the age of consent, film censorship, Christianity, women and human rights; GCM leaflets and circulars, 1970-1983; GCM pamphlets, 1970-1980, mainly concerning Christianity and homosexuality, counselling, and law reform; a large amount of correspondence and papers relating to other organisations, 1969-1988, particularly gay and religious groups in the UK and the rest of the world; general papers, 1970-1982, including press cuttings, press releases, posters, orders of service, and administrative papers; photographs, 1979-1980, mainly of GCM events. Later papers of the Gay Christian Movement (GCM) and its successor, the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM), 1985-1998, including papers of LGCM committees, newsletters, papers relating to consistory court cases, records of local groups, and material collected from other organisations, including some archives of the Roman Catholic caucus; correspondence with individuals, schools, colleges and students, and other organisations; copies of Gay Christian, 1976 - 1982 (incomplete); internal records including material relating to local groups, press releases, and committee papers; photographs and tapes; material from other organisations.

Over 80,000 newspaper and journal cuttings from national and local press, 1930s-1990s, covering all aspects of gay life from the 1930s to the present time. The range of topics covered in the collection is very broad and includes arts and the media (film, television, theatre, literature, and entertainment), censorship and obscenity laws, counselling and sex education, employment, international and British lesbian and gay organisations, sexual law reform, trials, prisons, lesbian and gay politics, "the pink economy", religion, transsexuals, transvestism, sex education, health and biographies. The collection is of prime interest to those studying visual culture and the influence of the media on public and private attitudes, but also to law students, twentieth century historians, psychologists and social scientists. The collection also includes a complete bound set of Gay News and its photograph collection, a nearly complete set of Gay Times, and a collection of banners (including those of OutRage!), badges, T-shirts and other artefacts.

Papers of Antony Grey, 1958-1992, comprising the following: Material relating to the Homosexual Law Reform Society (and its later incarnation, the Sexual Law Reform Society), 1958-1984, including minutes, correspondence and papers of the Executive Committee; draft sexual offences bills, 1958-1966; correspondence with members of parliament and papers relating to parliamentary debates on sexual law reforms, 1963-1965; general correspondence, 1963-1982, with respondents including the Home Office, the Campaign for Homosexual Equality, and the HLRS Honorary Committee; reports and memoranda, 1958-1980, on the Wolfenden Report, the Sexual Offences Act (1967), and the homosexual age of consent; material relating to conferences and seminars, 1974-1984.
Material relating to the Albany Trust, 1958-1990, notably copies of the original 1958 Albany Trust deed; minutes of the Trustees, and the Development Committee, Management Committee and the Counselling Service, 1966-1983; internal and general correspondence, 1963-1981, mainly relating to the officers of the Trust, grant applications, the National Federation of Homophile Organisations, Gay News, the Speijer Report and the National Viewers and Listeners Association; questionnaire and analysis of the Social Needs Survey, 1970-1972; financial material, 1964-1979; copies and drafts of Albany Trust publications on gay issues, 1966-1970. Material relating to the Albany Society, 1968-1992, including the memorandum and articles of association, 1968; minutes of the Annual General meeting, 1969-1991; members' correspondence, 1978-1991; correspondence and papers relating to financial matters, 1979-1992, including annual accounts, grants and fundraising; briefings and memoranda on various, 1980-1990, including counselling, AIDS, and social services. Working papers and other material, [1960]-1991, on subjects including homosexual law reform (including in Scotland and Northern Ireland), rape, prostitution and street offences, treatment for sex offenders, venereal disease, sex education, censorship, homosexuality and religion, homophobia, homophile organisations, AIDS, and the Albany Trust and HLRS archives. This section also includes notes, drafts and texts for speeches and articles on the above subjects. Papers relating to other gay campaigns, 1987-1991, including an OLGA conference on legislation for lesbian and gay rights, and opposition to Clause 28 and the Criminal Justice Act (1991).

Papers of the Joint Council for Gay Teenagers, 1970-1983, including minutes, 1978-1981; 4 issues of Gay Youth newsletter, 1970; correspondence, 1979-1983, relating to business, international links, counselling and surveys; financial material relating to Breaking the silence: gay teenagers speak for themselves (JCGT, London, 1981), 1981; material relating to campaigns and working parties, 1978-1981, including parliamentary lobbying and law reform; reports and articles, 1980-1982, mainly relating to the homosexual age of consent; pamphlets, 1970 and 1976-1982, mainly drafts of Breaking the silence and other material relating to young people and homosexuality.

Papers of Michael James, 1959-2000, including correspondence, 1977-1986, notably letters sent to and written by Michael James whilst in prison, 1977-1982; journals and diaries, 1980-[1999], including material relating to the impact of AIDS on the gay community and Body Positive hospital visiting; notebooks, 1977-[2000], containing poetry and prose, diary entries, records of dreams and predictions, sketches, draft letters, notes and cuttings of articles written by James for gay publications; material relating to published and unpublished poetry, articles, reviews and interviews, 1974-1986; papers relating to Body Positive, 1984-[1994], including annual reports, minutes of the Annual General meetings, Hospital Visiting Group meetings and the Counselling Group meetings, newsletters and other publications, and correspondence; photographs, 1959-1989, including Gay Liberation Front and Body Positive events; printed material and ephemera, [1972-1986], notably copies of Come Together; the years of gay liberation, 1970-1973, and Men in frocks (GMP, London, 1984) by Kris Kirk and Ed Heath; a cassette tape and synopsis of an interview by Michael James for the AIDS Social History Programme, 1991, relating to his work with Body Positive; summary of a life history interview taped for the National Sound Archive, 1993; papers of Tarsus Sutton, 1932-1990, including personal papers, leaflets and pamphlets, letters and postcards from Michael James and a notebook relating to hospital visits for Body Positive; personal papers, memorabilia and diaries documenting gay life in Brighton, 1995-1998; audio tapes, [1988-2000], including material relating to the Gay Liberation Front, the Notting Hill commune, and Body Positive hospital visiting. M3364 (deposited February 2007): correspondence and diaries, 2006, with papers relating to community activities in Brighton and Hove, 2006 (including copies of the 'Kemptown Rag' , papers relating to the Defend Council Housing campaign and Brighton Pride photo souvenir magazine). Also CDs containing letters and diaries from 1997-2006.

Papers of Adam Christie, 1981-1998, mainly relating to his work as a campaigner for AIDS education, including training packs, publications, conference reports and press cuttings, notably relating to AIDS in the workplace. Includes records and documents relating to an unsuccessful attempt to set up a national network of HIV/AIDS service organisations in the UK and the Republic of Ireland between 1986 and 1989.

Papers of the Albany Trust, 1950-1984, relating to its counselling and research work with homosexuals, lesbians and sexual minorities, notably Annual Report material, 1968-1970; minutes and papers of Trustees Meetings, 1975-1977; correspondence, reports and papers, 1966-1967, mainly relating to the early days of the Trust and the passing of the Sexual Offences Act (1967); minutes and reports of the Management Committee, 1977-1979, the Publicity Committee, 1963-1970, and the Development Committee, 1967-1968; working files for the newsletters and journals produced by the Trust, 1963-1977, including Spectrum and Man and Society; outgoing correspondence files, 1963-1978, mainly comprising personal enquiries and material relating to government legislation; general correspondence files, 1960-1983, notably relating to members of parliament, clergy, the media, the police, the Sexual Offences Bill, homosexuality, transsexuality and transvestism, youth welfare, and counselling; correspondence relating to counselling referrals, 1968-1976; financial papers, 1964-1984, including documents concerning fundraising and donations; material relating to surveys and research into sexuality, 1960-1983, notably psychosexual treatment, social needs and organisation, homosexual liaisons and legal cases; papers relating to seminars, conferences, and courses, 1963-1982; reports, papers and fictional works by various authors, 1950-1983, mainly concerning gay issues; pamphlets and leaflets collected by the Albany Trust, 1959-1978; material collected by the Trust relating to links with other organisations, 1964-1984, mainly charities, research groups, academic associations and foundations, campaigns and counselling agencies; files of the Albany Trust's resident social worker, 1964-1978, including correspondence, case analysis and subject files; papers of the Albany Trust's Youth Officer, 1976-1979, including administrative papers, correspondence with youth associations throughout the country and papers relating to training courses for youth workers; papers of the Albany Trust's Field Officer, 1965-1980, mainly comprising administrative papers and correspondence with counsellors and social workers throughout Britain; publications, 1962-1979, including details of talks given by Anthony Grey throughout the country.
Papers of the Homosexual Law Reform Society (later the Sexual Law Reform Society), 1959-1982, including Annual Reports, 1963-1967; financial papers, 1961-1982; Executive Committee papers, 1964-1975, including minutes, 1963-1970, reports on fundraising and cooperative projects and memoranda on homosexuality and law reform; general correspondence, 1963-1974, relating to the Sexual Offences Bill (1967), discussion groups, the HLRS Honorary Committee, and law reform; material relating to HLRS campaigns, 1959-1970; papers concerning the constitution of the Sexual Law Reform Society, including minutes of the Executive Committee and working party reports, 1974-1976; papers of the SLRS Working Party, 1970-1976, comprising minutes, correspondence, press releases, conference papers, research proposals and reports.

Papers of Lewisham Friend, including minutes, 18 March 1976-11 November 2004; general papers including constitution, codes of conduct, annual report 1997, papers relating to training, 1970s-1990s; records of calls, 1977-2005; analysis of calls, 1980s-1990s; National Friend documents, 1977-1994; Health Authority AIDS Committee minutes, 1986-1991, and training policy and guide to HIV and AIDS services in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham.