This series includes three distinct file runs of correspondence and other personal papers and business files, distinguished by their creator and level of organization. The first run contains vertical files kept by Ruth Bernhard, sorted by topic. The second contains artificial files by and about Bernhard, organized chronologically by topic and maintained by the Princeton University Art Museum, including original correspondence as well as correspondence between museum staff and various parties, along with articles by and about Bernhard, exhibition catalogs, workshop materials and advertisements, reproductions of photographs, publishing agreements, and more. The third contains unsorted correspondence and enclosures that Bernhard kept loose in boxes.

These files include a diverse mix of personal and business correspondence and other documents, ranging from birthday cards to living wills to publishing contracts. Bernhard maintained close friendships with many of her business contacts, students, and colleagues, resulting in the frequent presence of correspondence of a mixed nature within this series. Researchers should note that Subseries 1A and 1C contain a mix of personal and business files and correspondence, while Subseries 1B provides a more linear picture of Bernhard's professional career.