Drum set, undated

The collection consists of one linear foot of personal papers and a drum kit. Included at the beginning of the collection are two folders, one containing biographical information such as publicity releases and a list of bands Tommy played in, and the other containing removal notices.

Within the series the materials are arranged by subject. The bulk of the collection, however, is the photograph series which is not only the most sizable but also the... most comprehensive documentation of Benford's long career. This series stands out both physically and topically. The photographs are divided into several parts: items in Box 1 are slightly oversized and photographs regarding Bob Greene's World of Jelly Roll Morton have been kept in that series in order to form a comprehensive intellectual focus.

The papers document Benford's diverse professional experience, however, records of his early years (pre-1937) are lacking. The collection inventory describes the collection to the folder level and, in some cases, to the item level.