The collection primarily tracks Barnes's poetic career, specifically regarding his service as editor of the Chariton Review and contributions to other poetry journals, and contains manuscripts of his own poetry as well as that of Dagmar Nick, which he translated from German, and numerous books of poetry written by friends/contributors to the Chariton Review. It also contains personal documents such as correspondence, bills, and photos.

Contains manuscripts, typescripts, correspondence (business and personal), scrapbooks, published and unpublished music, personal writings and literary works (poems, short stories, etc.) created and collected during Woolsey's career as a writer of adult and children's literature and as a composer of popular music.