The California Association for the Education of Young Children Collection documents the establishment and development of the organization as well as its programming, outreach, and advocacy on behalf of early childhood caregivers, educators, students, and families. The collection dates from 1926-2004 and consists of four major series: Administrative Records (1926-2004), Program Records (1949-2004), Subject Files (1935-1985), and Affiliated Organizations (1938-2003).

Series I, Administrative Records, contains the operating files of the organization and is divided into three subseries: Presidents' Files (1926-2003), Executive Board (1962-2003), and Facilitative Records (1956-2004). Subseries A, Presidents' Files, documents the Association's presidential correspondence and reports and includes a video recording featuring former presidents, Sylvia White and Lee McKay, and a scrapbook featuring the Association's presidents as well as some of its members. The scrapbook's structure is preserved in digital format and its photographic prints are included in the subseries as well. The subseries begins with a list of the early presidents of CAEYC and its predecessor, the California Association for Nursery Education, with subsequent materials arranged chronologically by term in office. Subseries B, Executive Board, primarily documents the meetings of CAEYC's Board of Directors, Executive Board, and Executive Committee, which changed names over the years and had overlapping appointments, responsibilities, and meetings. Meeting materials include agendas, minutes, notes, and reports spanning forty-one years of assembly. Also included are board biographies, rosters, manual, meeting synopses, as well as three audio recordings of select board meetings, a video recording featuring board member, Docia, and a scrapbook featuring some staff members, most of whom served on the Executive Board. The scrapbook's structure is preserved in digital format and its photographic prints are included in the subseries as well. The subseries is arranged alphabetically by subject. Subseries C, Facilitative Records, consists of the Association's organizational and housekeeping records, including employee forms, articles of incorporation, bylaws, standing rules, financial documents, guidelines, handbooks, manuals, publications, as well as the files of CAEYC's secretary, treasurer, and historian. The series is arranged alphabetically by subject. Additional financial documents can be found in Series I, Subseries A and Series II, Subseries A and B.

Series II, Program Records, documents the planning and delivery of CAEYC's outreach events and advocacy efforts through the activities of its committees, liaisons, and regional associations. The series is divided into three subseries: Committees, Liaisons, and Special Projects (1949-2004), Conference Files (1956-2004), and Regional Records (1954-2002). Subseries A, Committees, Liaisons, and Special Projects, documents the concerns and objectives of CAEYC's various committee assignments and projects through announcements, correspondence, guidelines, reports, meeting materials, training resources, promotional materials, and video recordings. The subseries also includes listings of committees, liaison assignments, committee descriptions, and photographic prints of various programs and events. Files are arranged alphabetically by name of committee or project. Subseries B, Conference Files, includes correspondence, memoranda, planning resources, program handouts, attendance lists, reports, and audio and video recordings which document CAEYC's Annual State Conference and its Annual Legislative Symposium, known later as the Public Policy Symposium. Also included are records of hotel accommodations, expenses, conference registration, a scrapbook, and some photographic prints. The series is divided into two subseries, with Subseries 1, State Conferences (1956-2004), arranged chronologically by host city, and Subseries 2, Legislative Symposium (1978-2003), arranged chronologically by year. Subseries C, Regional Records, consists of correspondence, reports, meeting notes, contact lists, and promotional materials of the various regional chapters of CAEYC. A digitized LP produced by Helen Heffernan in cooperation with the Southern California Association for Nursery Education on the topic of nursery school programming for three and four year olds is also included. Some materials related to the National Association can also be found here. The subseries is arranged alphabetically by chapter.

Series III, Subject Files, mainly consists of printed materials collected by CAEYC related to early childhood education, teaching methodologies, curriculum development, and child and family resources. The materials primarily include essays, articles, reports, and newsletters, as well as some directories, fact sheets, conference papers, teaching aids, photographs, brochures, and a magnetic tape reel. The series is arranged alphabetically with item level listings.

Series IV, Affiliated Organizations, contains materials related to many of the organizations with whom CAEYC cooperated, and consists of correspondence, reports, organizational charts, legislative information, promotional newsletters and brochures, filmstrips, as well as some training materials and other professional development resources. The series is arranged alphabetically by organization.