These records were generated by listener response to Mennonite radio programming, particularly the Mennonite Hour (1951-1979) and Heart to Heart (1950-1975). Mennonite Media (then called called Mennonite Broadcasts, Inc.) employed staff to handle listener correspondence. The Mennonite Hour also had an extensive home Bible study program that generated further correspondence.
In the mid-1990s these files were sampled; only 5% (every twentieth set of correspondence) of the original correspondence was retained. The other 95% was destroyed. From this sampling, however, researchers can get a sense of the questions asked and responses offered.
Incoming correspondence is filed by listener's last name. Topic files are are response letters to individual letter writers from the counseling staff.