The Erma D. Banks Papers consists of 3 linear feet of material which documents the life and career of the South Georgian teacher and writer. The collection contains a wide range of materials from her early teachings in 1984 of library research techniques at Columbus State University-Simon Schwob Library to her collaboration in 1986, with colleague and friend Keith Byerman on the Alice Walker project.

It was during this time that Garland Publishing Company expressed an interest in the Alice Walker project. The completed work consists of 1000 citations by and about Alice Walker from a wide variety of sources. Materials in the Erma D. Banks Papers are arranged in three series:

Series I - Professional Correspondence, Biographical Files and Manuscripts, comprises one linear foot of materials which highlight the process and the bulk of Banks' research. Included are correspondence between Banks' and co-author and friend Keith Byerman, as well as correspondence between Banks and her publisher Garland Publishing Company. Also of particular interest are her initial attempts with other publishing companies to publish her work, Alice Walker: An Annotated Bibliography, 1966-1986. Also included are several drafts and copies of her the book. Series II - Periodical Literature contains one linear foot of materials which highlight the research that went into the making of Bank's work. Included are Periodical Literature files ranging from topics like feminism, African American Females, short stories, poetry, and race.

Series III - Reviews and Other Periodical Literature is comprised of .3 linear feet of materials such as reviews on the works of Alice Walker as well as the Color Purple. Researchers should note that this is not a collection on Alice Walker; but rather a collection of papers by Banks and her research on Alice Walker. 1984-2000s 3 boxes (2.3 l.f.)