This series contains records created and compiled by Dardess to support his academic work, including correspondence with KU colleagues and other academics in the field of East Asian history, miscellaneous correspondence about publications and drafts sent to Dardess to review, language study materials, and copies of research sources and references. The series also contains research notebooks and manuscript notes for class lectures, symposium talks, and other academic works, including for the classes HIST 100, HIST 118, HIST 583, HIST 585, HIST 592, HIST 980, and other KU courses in East Asian history and general world history.

Records arrived at Spencer Research Library in hanging files and were rehoused to better preserve their content. Titles were taken from provided folder titles. Legal size and oversize materials have been placed at the end of the series.