The Herbert H. Bateman Records consist of Bateman's state senatorial office files, 1968-1982, which are arranged alphabetically by subject matter into 249 series.

Each subject file contains all types of materials: correspondence, memorandum, reports, publications, pamphlets, newspaper clippings, bills, and other legislative documents. The collection includes voluminous background materials on the various issues, as well as correspondence and papers revealing Bateman's positions on the issues. The collection contains little information on Bateman's political activities (the original file inventory indicates that such material was retained) such as campaigns or party activity. The only file dealing with a political campaign is one entitled "Trible," which contains Bateman's correspondence with members of the Virginia Senate pertaining to the campaign of Representative Paul Trible for the U.S. Senate.

The Bateman Records have been arranged almost completely according to the original office file organization. Unfortunately, maintaining original office integrity has also meant retaining serious inconsistencies and redundancies. During Bateman's 14-year tenure in the Senate, he had several legislative aides who often duplicated files under different names or placed similar material in different files. With a few exceptions, these inconsistencies have been kept in the arrangement of this collection. Several files have been altered because the original office files had no apparent order. These files include Kepone, Ports of Virginia/Virginia Port Authority, and State Water Control Board/Water Resources. In addition, the files of Constituent Correspondence and Legislative Correspondence (originally filed alphabetically as "correspondence”) have been moved to the end of the collection, and the files of Consumer Credit, Consumer Protection, and School Distribution Formula have been moved into the alphabetical file order.

Hints for users: when researching Bateman's position or assembly action on a particular issue, follow the steps listed below to find all relevant materials.