Dr. Alton Hornsby, Jr. Collection is 180 linear feet and dates from 1961 to 2001, within the bulk of the material dating from 1971 to 2001. Found within the collection are biographical materials, scattered official letters that generally discuss some of Dr. Hornsby's activities, miscellaneous notes and writings, and clippings. While the primary value of this collection rests in its wide variety of professional associations’ papers and activities, it also contains articles, manuscripts written and speeches made by Dr. Hornsby about the African American life and experience in the City of Atlanta and the state of Georgia. As the editor of the Journal of Negro History, Dr. Hornsby, Jr. retained the bulk of existing records of that journal. Reports and correspondence as well as informative articles submitted by distinguished African American scholars make up most of the Journal of Negro History series.

As the President of the Association of Social and Behavioral Scientist, 1984 to 1985, he retained reports, voluminous correspondence, and miscellaneous notes detailing activities of the association. The Collection also contains records of his activities as the President of the Southern Conference on Afro-American Studies, Inc., which includes his many correspondences to the executive body of the association and members-at-large, as well as correspondence written to him by the association chapter members and executives. As the Head of History Department at Morehouse College for many years, he retained numerous correspondence from students, faculty members and the Presidents of Morehouse College, including course work and professorial materials as well as correspondence from the many professional associations he is part of as a result of his position as the Head of History Department, Morehouse College. The Collection further includes programs, articles, and books pertaining to African American experience in the south, particularly City Atlanta and the State of Georgia. The voluminous correspondence and miscellaneous notes reflect Dr. Hornsby’s deep involvement in those associations. Dr. Hornsby retired from Morehouse College in 2010.