Series 1 consists of the papers of Alexander C. Morgan, arranged in 6 subseries: a) Correspondence b) Relief Cases c) Membership d) Related Artists' Fund Societies e) Financial and Real Estate and f) Notes and Clippings.

Morgan (1849-1933) was a financier and amateur landscape painter who served as president of the Artists' Fund Society from 1910-1933. A cousin of J. P. Morgan, he entered the stock brokerage business at an early age and founded the firm A.C. Morgan & Co., serving as its head until 1928. He was a founder of the Salmagundi Club, a life member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and a fellow in perpetuity of the National Academy of Design. His artwork was exhibited at a number of private showings.

This series consists of multiple versions of the constitution (printed and hand written), as well as proposals to amend the constitution over the years.

Meeting minutes are hand written and arranged chronologically in bound volumes. They are continuous from February 5, 1859 through April 1, 1873 and from February 8, 1876 through March 12, 1922. They include annual and quarterly (or later, "semi-annual") meetings of the membership, as well as monthly meetings of the Board of Control. Business discussed includes nomination and election of general and board members, financial investments, aid to members and non-members, planning of annual exhibits and dinners, and proposals to amend the constitution. Officers and names of those present are listed for each meeting.

Reports are grouped by type. With the exception of Biennial Reports (which were formally published), most of these reports are hand written or typed drafts with hand written corrections and notations. The presidential and secretarial reports appear to be speeches that were read at the annual meeting or dinner. These reports discuss the overall health and activities of the organization, note deaths of members, and welcome new members.

This series consists of letters received by Artists' Fund Society officers and board members arranged alphabetically by recipient. Additionally, correspondence associated with particular committees and positions is grouped at the end. Letters address a range of activities and issues, including assistance to artists in need, updates on the health of those receiving aid, notifications of deaths of members, payment of assessment fees, honorary memberships, thank you letters, resignations, nominations for membership or service on the Board of Control, and other Society business.

Lists, nominations, honorary memberships, notifications of member deaths, and resignations all track the composition and structure of Artists' Fund Society membership over time. Additionally, death of members and fees lists, designation of benefits forms, will and estate documents, and receipts documenting benefit payments all demonstrate how assistance was administered to widows, children and families of deceased members.

This series is divided into two subseries.

Subseries A, Financial Records, includes correspondence with banks, bank statements, bankbooks, canceled checks, and bills and receipts. There are five bound volumes, including a cash transaction book and four volumes of check stubs of the Second National Bank.

Subseries B, John Mackie Falconer Papers, documents the investigation of J.M. Falconer, who served as Treasurer of the Artists' Fund Society from its inception until February 1883. Auditors determined that Falconer used deceptive record keeping practices to misappropriate $8,713.72. The final report on the affair said it was "the most painful and important" episode in the organization's history. These materials were bundled together by the Artists' Fund Society and are arranged in their own subseries to preserve this context.

This series consists of correspondence, legal agreements, reports and other records documenting the Society's real estate investments.

From 1860 through 1889, members were required to annually contribute a piece of art work to be exhibited and sold at auction. Money from the sales was deposited in a Special Investment Fund used for life insurance benefits. This series contains ledgers documenting auction sales, including artist names, titles of paintings, names of purchasers, and purchase prices. It also contains notices to members regarding the logistics of the exhibitions, and an exhibit catalog from 1876.

This series contains materials by and about other Artists' Funds in the United States, the United Kindgdom and Germany, including reports, pamphlets, invitations, newspaper clippings and correspondence.