In 1983, the Society for Linguistic Anthropology was formed as a section of the AAA with the goal of advancing the "study of language in its social and cultural context and to encourage communication of the results of such study." It has published the Journal of Linguistic Anthropology semiannually since 1991, and since 2001 they have given out the Edward Sapir Prize for the book making the most significant contribution to the understanding of language in society. The Society's records consist of 0.5 linear feet of administrative correspondence, newsletters, and minutes of the executive committee, 1983-1986, representing the formation and earliest years of the Society. The files are arranged chronologically, and then alphabetically.

The Linguistic Society of America was organized in 1924 in New York City, but there is little, if any, material in the archive relating to its early history. The bulk of the collection dates after 1960, although there is scattered correspondence and material for the decades prior to that time. There are administrative records (records of the officers, secretariat, committees, general correspondence); records concerning the summer linguistics institutes run by the LSA; annual meeting records; membership records; material relating to the publications of the LSA; and substantial material concerning affiliations with other organizations (ACLS, NAS, NRC, NEH, Social Science Research Council). There are also financial records of the Society.

This is a diverse collection containing professional correspondence, often relating to lectures, speeches, and articles; reprints; and numerous tape recordings.