This collection reflects his long and distinguished career as a leader in Louisiana education. It also shows his keen interest in the past, the present, and the future of the state. He collected a large amount of secondary and primary material on the history of Louisiana. The primary material includes copies of items related to Acadiana vigilante committees and the business records of William Wyatt of Vernon, Louisiana. Fletcher gathered much information on agriculture and industrial development while preparing speeches on these subjects. He gave frequent speeches especially after World War II through the 1950s urging the people of Louisiana to invest in education as the best means to insure the future greatness of their state. The collection also reflects the close relationship between Fletcher, his wife and their children: Ellen, Florence, Lorraine, and Joel III. The family correspondence contains frequent letters from Fletcher summarizing the events of the week for the benefit of the children who had all left the area. There is also a large number of letters to the parents including letters from Joel, III set from Europe and the Far East where he served in the U.S. Navy and from Europe where he worked during the 1960s. Fletcher held leadership positions at several levels in groups such as the American Red Cross, Rotary International, and the Federal Reserve Board. He was active at different times in the Lafayette Presbyterian Church, the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, and served on the board of trustees for regional colleges of both denominations. The collection also contains a large portion of Fletcher’s writings: poetry, short stories, books, and articles.