The materials in this collection were created from 1754 through 1999, but the bulk of the material dates from 1929 through 1998. They include biographical sketches, teaching notes and student papers, research materials, correspondence, published and unpublished documents, works by other authors, brochures and flyers, index cards, reel to reel audio tapes, and a blue silk sash. Approximately one-third of the collection is correspondence. In most cases, the published work include the original publication copy or reprints, as well the original typewritten manuscript (occasionally including numerous drafts with corrections) and handwritten notes. A majority of the published and unpublished documents is in the form of literary criticism.