The scrapbooks consist entirely of newspaper clippings from major Boston newspapers, concerning news items related to or involving police. Please note that newspaper clippings from August to December 1962 are missing from the collection.

The George Lewis Ruffin Society was founded in 1984 in response to dwindling numbers of minority police officers in the Boston Police Department. Its goals are to create greater understanding and communication between minority communities and the criminal justice system through annual convocations, events, courses, workshops and "The Long Road to Justice" traveling exhibit which documents the history of African Americans in Massachusetts.