Thomas J. Wood was professor of government at the University of Miami. The Wood Papers document the move to consolidate the city of Miami and Dade county governments.  Legislation introduced in 1945 represented the first effort to combine local governments and alleviate conflicts and confusion resulting from overlapping city and county functions.  The various municipalities, however, opposed the bill.  Although a similar effort was made in 1947, no change occurred until 1953 when the Metropolitan Miami Municipal Board organized to draft a new plan for municipal and county government in Dade County.  As the Board's initial step, it hired the University of Miami Government Department to supervise a survey of Greater Miami governments. The university contracted a firm of professional government consultants, the Public Administration Service of Chicago, to begin research.  Members of the Government Department reviewed the findings and reported to the 3M board.  A special Charter Board of the  3M board drafted a charter and legislation to reorganize local government and initiated a campaign to promote metro government.

The Wood papers include political advertisements, correspondence, minutes of meetings, clippings, transcripts of radio broadcasts, survey forms and government reports.

The Ross Beiler papers include published studies and research files on politics in south Florida, 1958-68.  The papers, which include polls, articles and papers, newspaper clippings, political advertisements, correspondence, course outlines, and other materials, consist of five series.