The Ed Sanders Papers includes drafts and manuscripts of Sanders' own writing as well as talks and lectures and research files for investigative writing; correspondence; printed material such as small-run publications and posters; artwork, especially "glyphs" and "bardic glyphs" or poems with visual components; ephemera, such as posters, flyers, and promotional material; photographs; and audiovisual material, including phonographs, audiocassette tapes, and CDs that document several decades of Sanders' life, specifically his political and activist activities particularly in the 1960s and '70s as well as his involvement in the political and social life of Woodstock, NY, where he still lives, as well as his research and work, including his writing, art, and music endeavors, including The Fugs. The collection also includes some teaching materials and writings and works of others.

Creator-supplied description was retained for these materials where possible. Some descriptions of physical condition, locations of materials, and cross references may be outdated and inaccurate.