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Numerous documents from the "blacklist" era of the 1940s and 50s survive in the Guild's files. One of the more interesting is this booklet, presenting reproductions of documents allegedly proving that Herb Sorrell, business agent of the Motion Picture Painters, local 644, and leader of the Conference of Studio Unions (which conducted several violent motion picture industry strikes in 1945 and 1946), was a Communist Party member. The headstrong, independent Sorrell always denied this, and insisted the "Herb Stewart" signature on the Communist Party membership card reproduced in the booklet, was not his. Based on surviving historical evidence and accounts, the question of whether or not Sorrell actually joined the party is still debated among writers.

"The public frolicked elsewhere" was the Guild's lament, in the face of its second fund-raising event. Held at Gilmore Stadium (now the site of CBS Television City, by the Farmer's Market), May 18-20 1934, only about 150 Guild members, out of 3,000 (!) showed up, and the losses wiped out the Guild's meager treasury! The Guild was saved through the generosity of $1,000 loans from President Eddie Cantor, 1st Vice-President Robert Montgomery, 2nd Vice-President Ann Harding, 3rd Vice-President James Cagney, and Board member Fredric March. The "Frolic" featured a rodeo, circus acts, a chariot race (manned by the same teams as were in Eddie Cantor's film Roman Scandals), and appearances by stars like W.C. Fields, Jeanette MacDonald, Pat O'Brien, Mary Astor, Jimmy Durante, Spencer Tracy, Edward G. Robinson, Claudette Colbert, Ralph & Frank Morgan, Carole Lombard, Dick Powell, Gloria Stuart, Bela Lugosi and Boris Karloff.

This exquisite 1941 program commemorates the second of two events, sponsored by the Guild and the American Federation of Radio Artists ("AFRA" 11 years before it became "AFTRA"). The previous "Gambol of Stars," held March 14, 1940, was sponsored by the Guild, Actors' Equity, American Federation of Radio Artists, American Guild of Musical Artists, and American Guild of Variety Artists, and intended as a show of solidarity (and possible merger) in the face of fighting off the most recent attempt of George Browne and Willie Bioff of the I.A.T.S.E. to take over ALL performer unions. By the end of 1941, the United States entered World War II, and there were no more "Gambols." The Guild has both programs, but the 1941 has the more attractive cover.

Two major components of Guild membership are: the responsibility to support it when you believe in its actions, but also the right to speak out and disagree with it, if so moved. Many members came out against the Guild’s official position favoring merger with AFTRA, and united to promote their case. Mailers were sent, listing merger opponents, including former Guild presidents Howard Keel, Charlton Heston, and Dennis Weaver. “Save SAG” buttons were distributed and worn. On November 19, 1998, the day before the merger ballots were mailed to the membership, the “Save SAG” group held an anti-merger rally outside Guild headquarters. On January 28, 1999, ballot counting was complete: merger had been rejected by over 52% of voting Guild members.

"New York Ball": The Screen Actors Guild held its 50th Anniversary balls a year late, in June 1984. This program is from the New York branch's celebration, the "Moving Picture Ball." In Hollywood, the corresponding event was called the "Golden Gala Ball."

Most Guild members have never seen this logo, but it was used exclusively from 1933 until the latter 1950's (when the first version of the "mask" logo of today was devised), then jointly with the "mask" logo until the end of 1965. Depicting a torch (symbolizing liberty, knowledge, the light of truth) bracketed by two halves of a laurel wreath, (symbolizing victory) it was created, appropriately, by an actor: Guild founding member #11, Ivan Simpson, then 58 years old, who was asked to "design a suitable coat-of-arms" for the Guild. In its first incarnation, the torch was bracketed by what appear to be grains of wheat, soon replaced by the more appropriately symbolic laurel.

As the Guild's elegant first ball, earlier in 1934, had earned so much money (and as the non-glamorous "Film Stars Frolic" event a few months later had LOST so much money), the Guild held another ball before the year was out. Like the first, it proved a money-making hit. Performers at the event included Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Jeanette MacDonald, Clarence Muse, and Joe E. Browne. Lyle Talbot ended up as the emcee, as President Eddie Cantor was unable to make it that night. The program includes drawings of actors, advertisements, and the official Screen Actors Guild song: "Stand, Guild, Stand" written by Ralph Morgan's best friend, actor Otto Kruger.

Two years before creating one of the most famous posters of all time, as the United States entered Word War I (Uncle Sam's "I Want YOU! For U.S. Army") 37 year-old artist James Montgomery Flagg designed the cover of this souvenir program. The occasion was the March 16, 1915 Masque Ball of the White Rats Actors' Union of America, at the Terrace Garden in New York, and the 82-page program is filled with photos, drawings, and advertisements. Artist Flagg numbered among his friends many of the most famous theatre-folk of the day, and was a member of New York's legendary Players Club. Flagg contributed to silent films in the 19-teens as an actor, screenwriter, and director.