The collection consists of two distinct groups of papers: material relating to Martin's research and writings on the English novelist and clergyman Charles Kingsley and manuscripts of eight of Martin's published books unrelated to Kingsley. The Kingsley material includes photostats and microfilm of correspondence, transcripts of correspondence, many with notes and corrections by Martin, and photographs. In addition, there is correspondence between Martin and various publishers, dealers, and libraries, as well as research notes, transcripts, galley proofs, pre-publication and publication copies of Dust of Combat (1959), a biography of Kingsley, and An Edition of the Correspondence and Private Papers of Charles Kingsley (1950), Martin's doctoral dissertation from New College at Oxford.

The other group of papers include typed manuscripts, proofs, and Xeroxes of five of Martin's scholarly works-- Enter Rumour (1962), an examination of four early Victorian scandals, Victorian Poetry (1964), The Accent of Persuasion (1966), a study of four Charlotte Bronte novels, Triumph of Wit (1974), an exegesis of Victorian comic theory, and Tennyson, The Unquiet Heart (1980)--and three mysteries he wrote under the pseudonym "Robert Bernard": Death Takes a Sabbatical (1967), Deadly Meeting (1970), and Illegal Entry (1972).