The papers of Malcolm D. Taylor span the years 1910 to 1981 with the bulk of the collection dating from 1914-1920. During this period, Taylor taught in a junior high school in Kinsman, Ohio, was educated at Oberlin College, and served in the First World War. Less well highlighted is Taylor's professional life after graduation. There is virtually no information about Taylor's personal life.

The Taylor papers are organized into eight series: Series I. Biographical File; Series II. Correspondence; Series III. Postcards; Series IV. Invitations; Series V. Miscellaneous Speeches and Writings; Series VI. Photographs; Series VII. Travel Materials; and Series VIII. Miscellaneous Printed Material. Within these series, materials are arranged by subject and then chronologically.

Taylor's experience in the First World War is very well documented. The bulk of the Correspondence is to or from Taylor when he was serving in the Army. Most of the Travel Materials are also from this period, as are many of the Photographs, and all of the Postcards.

The Biographical File includes an estate file, modest financial records, vital records, and other miscellany. It highlights Taylor's social and scholastic experiences at Oberlin. The financial records are a meticulous record of Taylor's investments from 1926-1949. The File is arranged chronologically by type of material.

The Correspondence, personal and professional, is arranged into three subseries: Outgoing; Incoming, Personal; and Incoming, Professional. In addition to the documentation of Taylor's experience in the First World War, there is information regarding his professional life. Each subseries is arranged chronologically.

The latter six series are each modest collections of materials. The Postcard series includes both cards he sent to his family during the War and then collected after he came home, and cards he collected but did not send. Collectively, they constitute a travel diary, documenting Taylor's service and travel in Europe during the First World War. The bulk of the Invitations series is from friends at Oberlin College, documenting some of the social events during Taylor's time at college. The Miscellaneous Speeches and Writings series contains both manuscript and printed materials documenting only a few of Taylor's writings. The Photographs series contains both amateur photographs presumably taken by Taylor and professional photographs documenting many of the institutions with which Taylor was associated. They are of varying sizes. The Travel Materials include a small selection of the memorabilia from Taylor's European travels. Finally, the Miscellaneous Printed Material, which consists of newspaper clippings and pamphlets, was collected by Taylor either because of his appearance in the document or because of its commemorative value.

Series I. Biographical File, 1913-1981 8f.

This miscellaneous file includes an estate file, modest financial records, vital records, and other miscellany. It is arranged chronologically by type of material.

Series II. Correspondence, 1914-1945

This personal and business correspondence is arranged into three subseries: Outgoing; Incoming, Personal; and Incoming, Professional. Each subseries is arranged chronologically.

Subseries 1. Outgoing, 1918-1919 4f.

This outgoing correspondence consists of Taylor's letters to his family during the First World War.

Subseries 2. Incoming, Personal, 1914-1917, 1919, 1921-1925 4f.

This incoming correspondence consists of personal letters received by Taylor from friends and family. Included are letters from Oberlin students to Taylor during his service in the First World War.

Subseries 3. Incoming, Professional, 1915-1916, 1918-1921, 1937-1945 3f.

This incoming correspondence consists of professional letters received by Taylor.

Series III. Invitations, 1918-1923 1f.

The bulk of these invitations are from friends at Oberlin College, documenting some of the social events during Taylor's time at college.

Series IV. Miscellaneous Printed Material, 1916-1927, n.d. 1f.

This material, newspaper clippings and pamphlets, was collected by Taylor either because of his appearance in the document or because of its commemorative value.

Series V. Miscellaneous Speeches and Writings, 1914, c.1920, 1930 1f.

This file contains both manuscript and printed materials documenting only a few of Taylor's writings.

Series VI. Miscellaneous Travel Materials, 1918-1919, 1946-1948 2f.

This file includes selections of memorabilia from Taylor's European travels.

Series VII. Postcards, 1918-1919 2f.

Collectively, these postcards, sent and unsent, constitude a travel diary, documenting Taylor's service and travel in Europe during the First World War

Series VIII. Photographs, 1910-1920, n.d. 2f.

These photographs contain both amateur photographs presumably taken by Taylor and professional photographs documenting many of the institutions with which Taylor was associated. They are of varying sizes.

Subseries 1. Prints, 1910-1920, n.d.

These prints are both professional and amateur photographs of a great range of subjects.

Subseries 2. Negatives, 1914-1920, n.d.

These negatives are mainly amateur photographs of Taylor and groups of his friends.