The Ronald E. Mickens papers document the professional life of African American physicist and university professor Ronald E. Mickens and include his correspondence, writings, research materials, conference and professional organization materials, and university activities spanning the early 1960s to 2013. The papers contain extensive correspondence, mainly related to communication with scientists and students from around the world, and peer-review correspondence. Also included are family materials, such as family calendars and greeting cards. Papers also include drafts, notes, and calculations for Mickens' 200-plus academic articles in physics, chemistry, computer science, and mathematics journals, and manuscript drafts and other materials related to his eight books. Ephemera from conferences contain Mickens' notes and transparencies from over 500 scientific, mathematics, and educational conferences. Conferences and professional organizations featured in papers include: American Physical Society and its Committee on Minorities in Physics; American Mathematical Society; Bouchet-ICTP Institute; Ford Foundation Conference of Ford Fellows; International Conference on Difference Equations and Mathematical Systems; National Society of Black Physicists; National Conference of Black Physics Students; and Southeastern Atlantic Regional Conference on Differential Equations. The bulk of the university files consist of Mickens professional materials from Fisk University and Clark University. Finally, the papers include photographs and ephemera, mainly from professional conferences and university events.