The Ruby Cohn Papers consists largely of manuscripts toward published and unpublished essays and lectures on Samuel Beckett. In addition, the collection includes correspondence and manuscripts toward published and unpublished essay and lectures on modern theater and analyses of playwrights.

The Jarvis Thurston Papers consist primarily of correspondence relating to Washington University's Department of English and its visiting writers program. The most significant part of the Thurston collection is the correspondence from James T. Farrell to Thurston and Van Duyn. These letters are of a more personal nature and often discuss literary matters such as Van Duyn's work. A small group of manuscripts, notably two drafts of a Thurston short story, "The Cross," is also included.