The papers include correspondence, manuscripts, and printed materials. Correspondence consists of letters from a number of important cultural figures in the emigration, including: Ivan Bunin, Zinaida Guppius, Aleksandr Kuprin, Pavel Mili︠u︡kov, Alekseĭ Remizov, Nadezhda Teffi, and Alekseĭ Tolstoĭ; there are also one or two letters each from Konstantin Balḿont, Dmitriĭ Merezhkovskiĭ, Ili︠́a︡ Repin, Fedor Shali︠a︡pin, and Marina T︠S︡vetaeva. There are manuscripts of several works by Shpoli︠a︡nskiĭ, including his memoirs, "Poezd na tretém puti" (New York, 1954).

The papers include correspondence, manuscripts, documents, printed materials and photographs -- most of which principally concern Fedor Shali︠a︡pin. There are twelve letters and postcards from Shali︠a︡pin, and one or two items each from Aleksandr Grechaninov, Olǵa Knipper-Chekhova, and Sergeĭ Rakhmaninov. There are manuscripts by Strakhova-Ermans, entitled "Vospominanii︠a︡ starogo professora penii︠a︡" and "Penie: Ego tekhnika i iskusstvo." There are photographs of Shali︠a︡pin in his operatic roles and with his family; and photographs of Olǵa Knipper-Chekhova, Aleksandr Glazunov, and of Sergeĭ Rakhmaninov and Aleksandr Grechaninov (with the faculty of the Russian Conservatory in Paris). Printed materials include programs of concerts by Shali︠a︡pin and others, and a copy of Strakhova-Ermans' book, "Le chant"(1946).