The Robert E. Hord, Jr., Papers have been devided into two series based upon material type. Series I consist primarily of letters written by Robert E. Hord, Jr., to his parents, Robert and Gladys Hord while serving in the army during World War II. Also present are two letters written to Robert Hord, Jr. by "Cousin Otto" and Al Bungardner. There are a few letters written to Robert Hord, Jr.'s parents on Robert's behalf. Also included are newspapers and advertisements which were included with Robert's letters home.

The majority of the letters speak directly to Hord's mother and center around discussions of camp life and the types of equipment he is working on while serving with the 302nd Ordinance Regiment. There are extensive discussions of Hord's efforts to secure a transfer the the Railway Shop Battalion. After the transfer, the letters settle into a kind of routine discussion of interesting events in camp, the types of trains he is working on, and responses the homefront news that his mother shares with him in her letters. The letters offer a unique perspective on the war and a glimpse into camp life for soldiers stations in the China-Burma-India theater during World War II.

Series II of the collection consists of a scrapbook and loose photographs of the Hord family. Photographs include Mr. and Mrs. Granville Hord, Robert Hord's grandparents. The scrapbook includes images from the campus of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and images of the camp where Hord was stationed in India. The majority of individual photographs are unidentified.