The collection is arranged in six series:

Series I. Academic Instruction, 1940-1979. This series contains papers relating to courses taught by Sturm and others and includes background materials, outlines, and exam questions. The series spans Sturm's academic career, and papers from multiple institutions may be found in a single file. The series is arranged alphabetically by topic/class name.

Series II. Academic Administration and Consultation, 1952-1988. This series includes materials relating to Sturm's academic activities outside the classroom. The series is divided into two subseries. Subseries A, Academic Administration, includes papers relating to university and departmental issues and personnel. The subseries contains a signficant amount of material on Virginia Tech's 1977 self-study, of which Sturm served as director. The subseries is arranged by institution (with files relating to Virginia Tech preceding those relating to other universities), then alphabetically. Subseries B, Academic Consulting, includes materials relating to Sturm's consultations with other universities, paricularly in Mississippi. The subseries is arranged alphabetically.

Series III. Organizations and Conferences, 1904-1987. Sturm's membership and participation in various organizations and conferences, largely devoted to political science, are documented in this series. The series includes several files relating to Phi Beta Kappa national honor society. The series is arranged alphabetically by name of organization/event.

Series IV. Writings, 1938-1987. This series includes files devoted to Sturm's many publications and public addresses. While some of the files include copies of these writings, many contain only preparatory research materials and correspondence. The series is arranged alphabetically by name of publication/address, with a few general files, relating to multiple articles/addresses, are found at the end of the series.

Series V. Subject Files, 1959-1987. This series, devoted to Sturm's many political science research projects, includes correspondence, printed materials, reports, and studies. Subseries A, Constitutional Commissions and Conventions, contains materials gathered by Sturm in keeping abreast of constitutional revision in the various states, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s. The subseries is arranged alphabetically, with U. S. territories found at the end ofo the subseries. Subseries B, Subject Files, is a more general grouping of files relating to Sturm's research activities in both state and federal political history and constitutional revision. The subseries is arranged alphabetically by subject name.

Series VI. Personal Papers, 1938-1987. A small group of personal papers completes the collection and includes biographical materials and planning calendars. Also included are files relating to Sturm's personal financial investments. Among these are papers relating to Sturm's investment in Adventurland Video of Blacksburg. The series is arranged by subject matter.