This subseries documents many aspects of the department's daily business. Files primarily contain correspondence with artists, galleries, and art institutions and are supplemented by a small number of general subject files that focus on administrative activities, exhibitions, or the department's interest in specific art media. In addition to correspondence, individual files may contain photographs of artists and works of art, financial records, details of exhibitions, shipping and loan records, and printed matter, such as exhibition catalogs and news clippings.

Theresa D. Parker's personal correspondence can be found scattered throughout, in addition to substantial correspondence with several of the artists represented by the department. A portion of the correspondence from the late 1970s concerns the eventual closing of the department.

The address book lists the mailing addresses of clients, lists artists and collectors, and documents business transactions and selling prices of works of art.

This subseries relates to plans for an exhibition of religious art to be held at the New York gallery on behalf of the General Theological Seminary in New York. The exhibition was canceled by the seminary in 1964 due to lack of funds, despite being in the advanced planning stages. Material primarily comprises printed matter relating to religious art and photographs of works of art, with only one folder of correspondence providing a little documentation of plans for the exhibition.

This subseries documents loans from the Contemporary American Department to galleries, museums, and other art institutions, such as the Museum of Modern Art, Dayton Art Institute, Corcoran Gallery of Art, American Academy in Rome, and National Academy of Design. The correspondence files provide detailed documentation of loans, including consignment, approval, and shipping records.

This subseries of financial records includes two account books containing notes on accounts payable and accounts receivable, profits and losses, and commissions; invoices and receipts; and a bound letterpress book of bills from 1947 through 1962.