The Central Files series documents all major NAM initiatives until about 1970. Prior to its move to Washington, DC in 1974, NAM maintained files in a central location. The subseries and file order reflect how NAM maintained the files. It is arranged into fifty subseries according to subject headings created by NAM. The subject headings are denoted by a subject code, 100-A through 100-ZZ and 200-A. Subject code 100-E, files related to Industrial Relations, were removed from the original run of files and can be found in Series XXV, Open Shop Department and Series XVII, Industrial Relations Department.

The subseries are: General files; Memoranda; Advertising; Promotion; Awards; Industrial Environment Division; Biographies; Inter-office bulletins; Business, Industry, Education Day (BIE Day); Chamber of Commerce; International Labor Organization (ILO); Charters; Government Relations Division — Government finance; NAM policy committees; Conventions; Corporate records; Financial records; Education Department; Free enterprise; Films; International Conference of Manufacturers; Science and Technology Department; Council for Latin America; Inflation; Insurance; International Affairs Division; La Follette Committee; Lobbying; Program Planning Division; Conferences, meetings — other than NAM; Membership; Toland, Lt. Ben; Reports; Organizations, foundations, and associations; Personnel; Positions; Public information — public relations; Publications; Radio and TV; Releases; Religion (clergy-industry); Research; Speeches; Taxes; United Nations; United States government; Women’s clubs; National Industrial Council (NIC); Market Development/Distribution Department; and Urban affairs.

This series should be used in conjunction with individual departments series.

This series consists mainly of phonograph records of a handful of William Pahlmann's radio and television appearances between 1946 and 1971. Like other interior designers, Pahlmann sought to promote himself and his work as much as possible. In radio and television, he found a pair of particularly effective mass marketing and public relations tools, which he made key components of his publicity and public relations efforts. Appearances on radio and television allowed Pahlmann to generate interest in his interior design work and helped him drum up new business for his firm William Pahlmann Associates. Radio and television also provided Pahlmann with mass media through which he could bring his ideas regarding interior design to a wider American audience.

The phonograph records in this series contain original audio recordings of several of Pahlmann's radio appearances, including his announcement of his "Path of the Sun" Everglaze fabric line and appearances on Martha Deane's radio program. The phonograph records also contain original audio recordings of Pahlmann's appearances on two television programs: "The Galen Drake Show" and "Jinx's Diary." Two phonograph records of former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's December 8, 1950 appearance on NBC Radio are preserved in this series as well. The contents of this series are arranged in the order in which they arrived at the Winterthur Museum.