The General subseries consists of records which document some of the school's basic administrative activities. Included are records of faculty meetings, a sampling of examination questions and student grades, and records from the School's 1985 self-study and accreditation process. Also included are documents pertaining to the School's interactions with Princeton University's Department of Politics and the Center for Research on World Political Institutions, as well as research materials compiled by historian William K. Selden when writing his 1984 book Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University: Conception and Early Development, 1930-1943.

The Correspondence subseries contains letters to and from School of Public and International Affairs administrators, generally prior to the creation of the office of the Dean. The contents of this subseries are particularly effective in illustrating the genesis of the School, as much of the early planning and development of the idea was done on an informal basis between trustees. One item of note in this subseries is a bound volume containing correspondence between Norman Armour, Dewitt Clinton Poole, and John Grier Hibben which essentially outlines the early curriculum and purpose of the School of Public and International Affairs.

The Subject Files subseries consists of two separate alphabetical runs of subject files compiled by the offices of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs on various topics such as courses, alumni, students, grades, conferences, and other individuals, groups or events. The files primarily contain correspondence, clippings, publications, and other written documents.

The Scholarships subseries contains records pertaining to some of the general scholarships awarded under by the Woodrow Wilson School. The most common type of scholarships represented here are summer scholarships, research funding and travel abroad.

The James Thayer Gerould and Lawrence Heyl subseries consists primarily of correspondence documenting the development of special collections within the Library and the expansion of the Library staff. Most of the files originate with Gerould (University Librarian, 1920-1940); however there are also records in this series that were generated by Lawrence Heyl, who was acting librarian 1939-1940, and Julian Boyd, who transitioned into the role of University Librarian in 1940. The records contain correspondence and subject files which document a diverse range of topics. Several folders are dedicated to collections acquired by the Library during this time, while others such as that relating to collector and Princeton's first Curator of Graphic Arts Elmer Adler, (Box 3, Folder 3) hint at long-term plans. Another file, "Federal Aid to Libraries" documents the Library's attempt to engage New Deal funding in the midst of the Great Depression.