The papers include correspondence to her mother, Mrs. Charles Duncan, while she was abroad on purchasing trips for the Sibley Music Library. Also included are essays concerning: her European buying trips; Philip Hale, the music critic; Anthony Philip Heinrich, the American composer; a critique of Irving Babbitt's article "New Laokoon: An Essay on the Confusion of the Arts"; and French melodrama.

This collection of over 400 letters written by Dilks to his fiancée Virginia Smith begin in September 1943. In his letters Dilks writes of his personal and professional activities and feelings throughout his military service. A significant portion of the letters consist of affectionate prose to Smith, as well as stories and feelings shared between the two, including their passion for cats. Dilks' letters also touch on religious issues, racial attitudes of the times and his personal feelings toward Europe and the Army. Accounts of combat are scattered throughout Dilks' letters as well as other more mundane military issues including problems with mail service, censorship of correspondence, and soldiers' extracurricular activities. Dilks served as an infantryman, and also as a technician and cook and in his letters he shares his feelings about these various duties. He also expresses the effect that warfare is having on his individual character and his thoughts about other issues and nationalities. Dilks' correspondence concludes in February of 1946. After returning home he married Virginia Smith on July 30, 1948; they were divorced seven years later. Dilks died February 15, 1960. Numerous photographs, postcards, telegrams, and greeting cards accompany Dilks' letters. Also included in the collection are artifacts such as his army cap, sewing kit, medals, patches and dog tags.