This collection was created and structured by Edward Shalala with an eye towards it being a critical resource for future research and a tangible record of South Africa's constitutional heritage. 

The collection provides insights into structures, processes and work subordinate to and in co-ordination with Edward Shalala within the Constitutional Assembly. Key critical decision documents and reports of the Community Liaison Department (CLD) and Public Participation Programme (PPP) can be found here. 

The collection is composed of materials gathered by Edward Shalala during his time as the head of the Constitutional Assembly CLD from September 1994 to May 1996. The CLD was one of three major arms of the PPP, the other two being the Media Department, and invitations for submissions from the public.

The collection was supplemented and used by Synnøve Skjelten in writing her book: A People's Constitution: Public Participation in the South African Constitution-making Process.

The series Synnøve Skjelten Research contains Synnøve Skjelten’s thesis and research material. Some primary source research material from the Constitutional Assembly (1994 to 1996) is stored alongside Skjelten's thesis (1999-2006).  

The series Constitutional Assembly contains some general documents from the Constitutional Assembly with the majority dealing with CLD and PPP. The series is composed of reports, documents, newsletter and promotional ephemera such as t-shirts and stickers.

The series Miscellaneous contains material in three groups covering the 1994 election process, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa, and a portable exhibition on the life of Nelson Mandela.