The overall focus of the Stephen B. L. Penrose, Jr. Papers features the Beirut period of the lives of Stephen B.L. and Margaret Dale Penrose. The largest series of this collection contains the correspondence to and from Stephen and Margaret. These letters detail their everyday interactions and business endeavors, especially as related to the American University in Beirut. Researchers should note that many letters were generated and received by Margaret before and after his death. Her chronicles of their personal life are rich in detail and add significant depth to a knowledge of their lives in Lebanon. The items relating to Stephen reflect his wide interests and pursuits: professor of philosophy, university president, spy, Palestinian advocate, United States bureaucrat, Congregational Church lay preacher, and devoted family member. The remainder of this collection is divided into series containing photographs, information regarding the American University in Beirut, Penrose's speeches, recognition of his work, his and others' writings on Palestine and its people, transcriptions of interviews, the Near East College Association, his OSS activities, his contributions to Whitman College alumni publications, his death and ensuing tributes, and, a collection of papers based upon research on this collection. In addition, a small yet important series contains a bound copy of the annual reports for the Syrian Protestant College, which was the forerunner of the American University of Beirut. (Please note: for clarity, Stephen is referred to as Penrose.)