Though donated by and named after ACT-UP Golden Gate, a significant portion of the materials are from 1990 and earlier, before ACT-UP GG separated from ACT-UP San Francisco, in September of that year. The largest amount of material concerns ACT-UP actions and responses to the 6th International AIDS Conference which was held in San Francisco in June of 1990. There are also materials about the 5th and 7th conferences and materials from ACT-UP Golden Gate's Treatment Issues Committee.

This collection documents the founding, administration and work of the Mobilization Against AIDS also known as the MOB. MOB was primarily a lobbying organization working against anti-AIDS initiatives and governmental policies, promoting the testing of new AIDS Drugs, and generally drawing attention to the AIDS epidemic around the world. They are best known for their AIDS Dance-a-thon fundraiser and the International AIDS Candlelight Vigil outreach activity.