The collection consists primarily of lecture notes and course-related notebooks maintained by designer Carolyn Nesbitt Wagenseller ('63) during her studies in Parsons School of Design's Interior Design Department.

The Hu Shih diaries comprises six microfilm reels of diaries by Hu Shih, a Chinese philosopher, essayist, educator, scholar, and diplomat of the 20th century. Materials include in the collection are Hu Shih's diaries, which contain correspondence, news clippings, lecture notes, letters dating from 1921 to 1935, as well as the writings of Hu Shih's father, Hu Chuan, who was a civil official of the Qing Imperial Court.

The collection consists of student work and related documents kept by Ina Dell Marvin (1893-1991) while studying in the Paris Ateliers of the New York School of Fine and Applied Art (now, Parsons School of Design). Includes class reference materials, clip books, correspondence, diploma, London itinerary, lecture notes, photographs and renderings of furniture, decorative pieces, and interiors.

Sunbeam "Sunny" Randall (1898-1993) graduated from Parsons School of Design Interior Design Department in 1951 and worked as a professional decorator. The collection includes course materials, furniture and decorative style sketches, class notes, and a scrapbook documenting Randall's art tour of Europe as a Parsons student in 1950.