The Michael Collins Papers document the life and career of Collins, pilot, astronaut, assistant secretary of state, director of the National Air and Space Museum (NASM), and author.

The collection comprises correspondence, notes, printed material, photographs, and audio recordings from Collins' Air Force career, training at the U. S. Test Pilot School and Experimental Flight Center, participation in NASA's Gemini and Apollo programs, and tenure at the State Department and NASM. The collection also includes materials associated with Collins' books Carrying the Fire, Flying to the Moon and Other Strange Places, and Liftoff!, as well as various articles and book reviews written by him. Collins' many public appearances are represented here with background materials, speech notes, texts, printed material, and photographs. The collection also contains a number of files, largely composed of correspondence, devoted to Collins' involvement with various boards and clubs. In addition, there are small sets of personal correspondence, biographical materials, and an assortment of honors and memorabilia.