The William H. Gass Papers consist largely of his own manuscript material: manuscripts and proof material toward his books, drafts of various stories, essays, and reviews, interviews, and a miscellaneous assortment of notes and other materials. Also present is a substantial amount of professional correspondence, primarily with universities, magazines, and publishers, as well as with his colleagues in academia and in the literary community.

The bulk of the Spark Papers consist of correspondence between Spark and British poet Derek Stanford, and correspondence between Spark and her literary agent. Correspondence with other literary figures is also included, as well as drafts of several poems and essays by Spark. Also present are two small notebooks bearing Spark's autograph notes which include drafts of poems.