The manual identifies the types of missing persons: runaway husbands and wives, runaway children, loan skips, adoption cases, and criminals. It discusses finding missing persons as a profession and explains the value and use of various types of records. These records include the following types: arrests bank, courthouse, credit, drivers license, hospital, license plates, occupational licensing bureaus, phone books and city directories, post office, social security, telephone, and welfare. The manual gives information on how to find out where someone works, suggesting that the easiest way to acquire this information is through the infamous 'jury duty' telephone ruse. The manual includes case histories and a recommended reading list.