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The New Building Planning and Construction Files span from 1951 to 1998, with the bulk of the files documenting the construction and initial occupation of the building (1964-1969). The files originate from the Foundation's Administrative Division and touch upon all aspects of the design and construction process. The earliest documents in the collection concern the acquisition of the property at 320 E. 43rd Street, site demolition, and the architectural design. The files document all aspects of the construction of the building, as well as building operations. Other files hold publicity about the new headquarters. The collection also contains photographs and slides of the site demolition and construction, the garden and offices in the completed building, and several individuals including architect Kevin Roche, who achieved recognition for his creative work with glass.

The Program Management Cost Files span from 1952 to 1984 and are organized into three series: the Ford Foundation Refugee Fund (1952-1957), Travel and Study Award Policy (1957-1964), and Program Management Costs (1961-1984). Set up in 1952 and administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on behalf of the Foundation, the Refugee Fund assisted Western and Central European communities with the economic and social integration of post-war refugees. The files for the Fund document its administration and financial and logistical matters. The files for the travel and study award policy review the benefits offered to foreign nationals receiving travel and study awards and their dependents. The files for program management costs constitute the bulk of the collection and shed light on budgets and planning for divisions and programs spanning fiscal years 1961 through 1982. The management costs for International Division programs and field offices as well as the Special Retrenchment Fund are particularly well documented.

The Middle East and Africa (MEA) Files from the Office of Richard C. Robarts were transferred to the Ford Foundation Archives in July 1982. The MEA Files include both the files which Robarts created and maintained (Series III) and those files that were created by MEA staff, including Robarts' successors Ann Lesch, Sidney Jones and Judy Barsalou, and maintained in Robarts' office (Series I and II). Arrangement within the series corresponds as closely as possible to the original order established by the MEA Office. In 1995, the Archives received files from the office of Steven M. Riskin. Riskin was as assistant program officer and program officer in MEA, January 1984-June 1992 and subsequently, a Foundation consultant. These files proved to be MEA files that had remained in Robarts' office subsequent to the transfer of Robarts' files in 1982. They have been accessioned as ACC95/1 and now constitute Series IV.

The Africa and Middle East (AME) Program originated in 1958 as the Near East and Africa Program, a regional program area within Overseas Development. It became part of the International Division in 1966 when the Overseas Development Program, along with other international Foundation programs became part of one International Division. A subsequent restructuring of the International Division occurred in 1980-1981 and led to the creation of the Developing Countries Program (DCP). Three new regional offices serving Africa and the Middle East were created within DCP: Middle East and North Africa, Eastern and Southern Africa, and West Africa. In 1989, the AME Program was reconstituted as a full program and continued to administer programs in the three regions in addition to a fourth, newly created Study Group on South Africa. The Africa and Middle East Programs files span in date from 1965-1976 and 1987-1994. The collection consists of the combined office files of AME program staff members Robert H. Edwards, Dr. John D. Gerhart, Steven M. Riskin, and Anna Wadia. File contents include correspondence, memoranda, meeting and conference minutes and agendas, reports, briefing papers, and information about various trips of Foundation Trustees to Africa. The bulk of the files are meeting and discussion group records from staff participation at internal Foundation meetings and external discussion groups facilitating collaboration with other philanthropies for common goals. One highlight is the rapporteur notes documenting the Foundation's 1989 Human Rights Meeting in Dakar, Senegal. The notes contain an overview of the Foundation's work to date in the field of Human Rights.