The general files are easily the largest series of the Bennett gubernatorial papers, comprising 139 boxes of manuscript materials in folders. These files contain the day-to-day correspondence that the governor kept with state citizens, state agencies, and agencies from other states or countries. The files are notable for the ubiquitous green carbon copy of the governor's reply to whomever has written. All subjects are covered, and the folder listings reflect, in alphabetical order, the many agencies, states, counties, people, issues, and other topics that warranted the keeping of a file folder. These topics are in alphabetical order, with such surplages as "Kansas State Department of" coming after "Economic Development" in the alphabet, i.e., Economic Development, Kansas State Department of"...

In 1977, the governor's office staff decided to begin anew the general files, with some additional subjects. In processing these files into manuscript boxes after arrival at Spencer Research Library, both sets of near identical General Files were collated by their common subjects, and each subject folder is organized chronologically. The letters are stapled or clipped together by sender and the governor's reply, with the top letter sheet's date serving as the determinate of where in the 1974-1979 period of chronology the letters sit.

Many cross-references are notes in the listing of subjects, and as always, the researcher should check other series for related subject material.

The last three boxes of this series are devoted to the files kept at Garden City and Wichita. They both contain their own subject listing and should be checked by researchers of topics dealing with either area.

One large set of materials, the Budget Files, were removed to form a separate thirteen box series (#170-182). They are described later in the series descriptions.