Papers arranged into five series: Public Papers, Personal Papers, Speeches, Columns, and Clippings. Public papers are arranged topically and contain files relating to Keyserling's work as a legislator in the S.C. House; the largest sub-series within Public Papers relate to those areas in which Keyserling had the greatest impact: the arts, Beaufort County, education, energy, health, and women. Public Papers: Education files illustrate Keyserling's belief that it is the state's duty to provide every student with a balanced and complete education. Public Papers: Beaufort County files relate local issues and topics, such as Education; Health (re specific health care institutions within Beaufort County, such as Beaufort Memorial Hospital and the Coastal Empire Mental Health Center); Waste (re the Beaufort-Jasper Water Authority and the management of hazardous and solid waste within the county); and locations (Bluffton, Fripp Island, Hilton Head, and Port Royal. Files on Hilton Head include information about recycling and highway transportation on the island, as well as the cultural center for the arts and the Victoria Bluff Yacht Manufacturing Facility). Public Papers: Women sub-series reflects Keyserling's interest in the role of women legislators, both state and national, and social issues affecting women, such as abortion, employment, and the Equal Rights Amendment. Abortion papers document Keyserling's strong support of a woman's right to choose. The Human Life Protection Bill file relates to Keyserling's opposition to this proposed legislation to outlaw abortion. Personal papers document Keyserling's interests in private life while serving in the General Assembly and her activities since her retirement. Major sub-series include Arts, Campaign, Energy, and the Penn Center (formerly Penn School). Arts include the South Carolina Humanities Council, the Spoleto Festival, and the Southern Arts Federation. Spoleto Festival papers, 1982-1996, contain materials documenting Keyserling's involvement with the Festival, including her service on the Board of Directors. Penn Center papers, 1965 to 1996, describe Keyserling's involvement with the St. Helena Island agency, as a member of both the Board of Directors (1992-1995) and the Board of Trustees (1992-1998). Materials dating from 1965 to 1970 concern her husband Dr. Herbert Keyserling's membership on the Board of Trustees. Also included are materials regarding a partnership between the Penn Center and the University of South Carolina which emphasized the development of an early childhood education program at the Center. Columns, 1977 to 1995, are arranged chronologically and include a table of contents at the beginning of the 1977-1979 folder. These are chiefly articles written by Keyserling on a semi-regular basis chiefly for the Beaufort Gazette newspaper. These articles document Keyserling's opinion on legislation, social issues, and the legislative process.
