Among the duties of the Division of Intergovernmental Relations, one of the subdivisions of the Mayor's Office, was to "conduct relations with city commissions." The files include letters of appointment to various city boards, commissions, committees or task forces, information sheets and resumes on potential nominees, copies of council resolutions or motions appointing members, and general correspondence and inter-office memos regarding appointees or board/commission business. Also included in many files are lists of currently serving members and background information on the board or commission, including enabling legislation.

The records appear to be files originating from Mayor Sidney J. Barthelemy's administration (specifically files kept by Linda Callahan, administrative assistant in Intergovernmental Relations). These files were apparently remained with Intergovernmental Relations when Mayor Barthelemy left office and were used and sometimes added to by members of Mayor Marc Morial's Intergovernmental Relations Office (specifically, by Jane Jurik, Director of Boards and Commissions.)