William Mitchell served as the associate librarian of Special Collections at the Kenneth Spencer Research Library, part of the University of Kansas Libraries, from 1967-1999. This collection includes professional and personal correspondence, various professional and personal papers, news clippings, and other materials recording local concerns Mitchell wrote about, as well as ephemera relating to Mitchell's professional life.

This collection contains correspondence between William and Donna Mitchell, and various individuals and families seeking help with immigration to the United States from China. Also included are newspapers from Hong Kong, and various photographs of individuals and families, as well as some photographs from activities conducted by the Kansas Republican party.