The collection consists of Yates's correspondence, photographs, and memoranda, as well as papers of others, relating to his founding and editorship of the London newspaper The World. Much of the correspondence is addressed to Charles Thomas, another World editor, and to the newspaper in general, including letters to the editors, cover letters for works submitted for publication, and letters by contributors to the paper's "Acrostics" column, but there are letters by Yates as well. In addition, the collection contains a photograph of Wilkie Collins and newspaper clippings, including some describing Yates's imprisonment for libel in 1885.

Among the papers of others are some letters by a group of minor Victorian novelists, W. B. Maxwell, Mrs. F. Cashel Hoey, Charlotte Riddle, and Mary Elizabeth Braddon. In addition, there are reminiscences of Yates by Braddon, Sir Francis Burnand, Joseph Ashby-Sterry, and "Nemo."