The collection contains the personal and professional papers of Chief Justice Arthur Chaskalson.

The collection contains personal and historical documents, correspondence, photos, wishing cards and newspaper clips.

The collection material covers the years 1970 to 2002. Much of the material consists of copies with some exceptions. In co-operation with a large number of non-governmental organisations involved in human rights issues an extensive collection of reports, publications, pamphlets, telegrams and telexes, newsletters and letters was collected.

Later material, particularly in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission section was added from Internet news services and the TRC web site. There are a few letters from and to Kairos, but the bulk of the collection is Kairos' research and resource material. Kairos also developed a database and researched reports on detention, torture and deaths in detention for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Kairos research reports and publications are to be found in most of the sections.

Kairos has also donated audio-visual tapes of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearings. A list of these is available at Historical Papers. A small collection of ephemera consists of campaign buttons, stickers and postcards. A collection of posters contains campaign posters and a series of exhibition posters. Books donated by Kairos have been added to the Africana Library.