The collection is arranged into seven series. Files in each series are arranged alphabetically by folder or item title.

Series I: Civil War Files and Prints contains subject files on various American Civil War topics including specific battles, locations, regiments, and historic figures, as well as works of art, maps, and images. Other files include information on railroads, prisons, ethnic or social groups, and branches of the military.

Series II: Other Subject Files contains files on various topics, some tangentially related to the Civil War. Topics include, but are not limited to, figures from US military history, World Wars I and II, the Mexican War, railroads,

Series III: Lincoln Materials contains historical information about aspects of Abraham Lincoln's life and presidency. The series also includes cartoons, newsletters, portraits, and memorabilia.

Series IV: Elden E. Billings - Personal Files contains biographical information and photographs, correspondence to and from Billings, book catalogs, and notes relating to speaking events and writings.

Series V: Publications contains newsletters and journals, mostly from the Civil War period or about the Civil War. Other publications relate to Civil War Roundtables, historical societies, and military history.

Series VI: Primary Documents contains two subseries. Subseries A: Scrapbooks includes several related to Civil War regiments or individuals. Subseries B: Manuscripts includes originals and typed copies of diaries, correspondence, and ephemera from the Civil War and Reconstruction periods.

Series VII: Artifacts contains several portraits, daguerrotypes, and photographs of Civil War figures, including Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee. This series also contains medals, coins, calling cards, stamps, and other memorabilia. There are two non-Civil War related items: a print of an elephant fight from India, and a notebook that belonged to Ulysses S. Grant III.