The Howard S. Avery Papers contain correspondence, brochures, journals and photographs from Avery's student days at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) as well as an assortment of his professional and personal papers amassed from the years 1922 to 1995.

The collection is comprised of memorabilia from his years at VPI, including an extensive photograph collection that illustrates student life. Included with the photographs are negatives from The Bugle. The collection also includes several bullitens from VPI. The collection also contains notebooks of class notes and journals of scouting trips that give extensive information on the geology of southwest Virginia. The collection contains a VPI psalm book from 1924, a program of the dedication of War Memorial Hall in 1926, and several original layout pages from the 1927 Bugle. The collection also contains corresspondence from Avery's time at VPI. The collection also contains several blueprints that Avery used in engineering classes at VPI.

Howard Avery's personal papers contain professional correspondence, brochures, newspaper clippings, and National Rifle Association (NRA) legislation actions in which he participated. It also includes correspondence, brochures, and related documents from the Boy Scouts, the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, the Sierra Club, and other organizations he was involved in during his lifetime. The collection also contains records relating to Avery's time in the Army and some professional papers unrelated to his work at Abex.