The Bragdon Family Papers are predominantly composed of the personal papers of architect, author, and theater designer Claude Fayette Bragdon but also include those of his parents, sister, wives and children. Included is the correspondence of Claude F. Bragdon with his family and others, including Gelett Burgess, Walter Hampden, Norman Kent, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Kathleen Cunningham, Llewelyn Powys, J.B. Priestley, Nikolai Roerich, Alfred Stieglitz, Peter Uspenskii, John Van Druten, Tennessee Williams, and Frank Lloyd Wright. There are also publications and manuscripts by Bragdon; financial and legal papers; photos of buildings he designed; drawings of stage sets; scores for color music; diaries, 1877-79, 1908-12, 1924-46; scrapbooks; records of the Manas Press; and memorabilia. The correspondence and manuscripts of his sons, Henry W. and Chandler, his father George C. Bragdon, and that of his wives, including the spirit communications of his second wife are included. In addition, the diaries of Kathleen Shipherd Bragdon, 1860-1920; letters and papers of Fayette Shipherd and family; scrapbooks and diaries of May Bragdon; family photographs; and genealogical data; and documents relating to building of Selkirk Bethel Church (Point Ontario, New York, 1848-55) are contained in the collection.

The Ellwanger and Barry Papers includes the records of Ellwanger and Barry Nursery to 1918, including correspondence, order books, sketchbooks, stock record books, catalogs, price lists, inventories, and account books; records of Ellwanger and Barry Realty Company to 1963, including financial and legal papers, account books, payroll records, and blueprints for houses on the Ellwanger and Barry tract. Also business and personal correspondence, account books, and financial records of Patrick Barry, Charles P. and Julia Wald Barry, Bernard and Harriet Barry Liesching, and Arthur A. Barry, including much information about Rochester banks and civic organizations. Also family photographs and scrapbooks; memorabilia; diaries of Patrick Barry, 1857-72; and record of soldiers' bounties, 1862-1863.

The collection consists of correspondence, business records, ledgers and account books, notebooks and diaries, and blue prints.

The Norman Studer Papers document his career as both an educator and ardent Catskill folklorist. The collection includes significant material relating to his work as director of the Downtown Community School in New York City and Camp Woodland in the Catskills.