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The President's Office subgroup documents Ruthven's tenure as president including the major administrative reorganization of the university he undertook, the extensive building program the impact of the depression and World War II on the university. The papers consist largely of correspondence with regents, deans, administrators, faculty and state officials as well various reports and project files. The President's Office papers are organized into four series: Correspondence Files, 1929-1952; Subject Files, 1929-1952; Photographs; and Topical Files, 1931-1935.

The correspondence file was maintained by academic year and arranged alphabetically. Of importance in locating relevant materials is the fact that Ruthven's staff decided to file materials relating to most of the university's schools and departments under the name of the dean or department chief. There are some exceptions to this rule as will be apparent from reading the container listing. For example, files pertaining to the Clements Library are file under C and not under the name of the library's director Randolph Adams and files about the football program are filed under Football and not under the name of the football coach or the athletic director. The researcher should usually look first under the name of a faculty member or staff officer for matters falling within his/her jurisdiction or control. Other matters which are filed under topic rather by name are: correspondence with associations; fellowships, scholarships and loans; foreign institution aid; foreign students; questionnaires; and U.S. legislative matters. As a guide to locating other correspondence, the library has prepared a card index file to selective correspondents within the Ruthven papers. This file is located in Box 66.