The collection illustrates the literary and military careers of Cozzens in manuscripts, notebooks, diaries (1920-1970), war journals (1911-1945), correspondence (general, family, and business), documents, memorabilia, clippings, and photographs. Ten of his novels Ask Me Tomorrow, By Love Possessed, Castaway, Guard of Honor, The Just and the Unjust, The Last Adam, Men and Brethren, Morning Noon and Night, Son of Perdition, S. S. San Pedro—as well as short stories, poetry, articles, and introductions, are represented by drafts, typescripts with author's corrections, and/or galleys.

Cozzens's correspondence with his mother, Bertha Wood Cozzens, covers almost 40 years (1917-1953); other correspondents include Carlos Baker, Saul Bellow, Matthew Bruccoli, Erskine Caldwell, Granville Hicks, William Jovanovich, Oliver La Farge, Richard M. Ludwig, Arthur Mizener, and John O'Hara. Also included is military material, such as transcripts of press conferences, correspondence, manuals, and Cozzens's Air Force file.

In addition, there are seventeen letters to John Abbott regarding problems with the publisher B. J. Brimmer & Co. (1924-1926), fourteen letters and one postcard to Richard M. Ludwig (1957-1975), two letters to Pat Lawler (1958), and one lettter to Pearson (1968).

Abbreviations used, mostly in correspondence:

JGC: James Gould Cozzens (had a great-uncle by the same name; is clearly marked as such)

BWC: (Mary) Bertha Wood Cozzens (1875-1953) JGC's mother

MEW: Mary Eliza Wood JGC's maternal grandmother

HWC: Henry William Cozzens, Jr. (1866-1920) JGC's father

Note: JGC married Sylvia Bernice Baumgarten. She is sometimes referred to as Sylvia and other times referred to as Bernice. Her professional name (as a literary agent) was "Bernice Baumgarten".