Atwood Collins II (1917-2004), long-time regent of the University of Hartford, was a respected Hartford attorney for many years. In addition to locating the property on which the University of Hartford was built, he crafted many of the legal documents which created the University.

Collins was born in Hartford and earned his BA and law degrees at Yale University. After service in the US army during World War II he assisted Army Intelligence in Germany interrogating high-ranking Nazi officials for the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials.

Collins was a member of the US delegation to the 1945 Conference on International Organization in San Francisco, CA, where the charter for the United Nations was signed. He also served as a member of the committee that formed the International Court of Justice.

The Collins Collection has two components. The first part consists of legal files kept by Mr. Collins during the course of his service as legal counsel to the University. These files date primarily from the late 1950s through the 1970s. Of particular interest are cases dealing with issues of freedom of speech and civil rights during the 1950s and 1960s.

The second component of the Collins Collection comprises records that date from Mr. Collins tenure as political and liaison officer for the US delegation to the 1945 Conference on International Organization in San Francisco, CA. These papers document Collins' unique personal insight into the early development of the UN.

The collection comprises a total of 20 linear feet.