The fonds consists of records relating to Peter's teaching and research activities, including research grant applications, letters of recommendation and lists of bibliographic citations; notes, outlines, fragments, notebooks, manuscripts and galleys for "Along That Coast", "Take Hands at Winter" and "Runaway", as well as unpublished novels by Peter and correspondence with publishers regarding "Along That Coast" and "Runaway". The fonds include a small amount of material relating to Professor Peter's research and teaching activities, but primarily they document his writing activities, particularly the preparation of his novels, as well as unpublished works of fiction and essays.

The fonds consists of her literary works, including manuscripts, drafts, and notes of stage plays, radio plays, short stories, film scripts, and unpublished novels; her research files; reviews of her literary and theatrical works; her business files, consisting mostly of correspondence; her personal affairs files, consisting mostly of correspondence with family, colleagues, friends, and other writers including Diana Hartog, Elisabeth Hopkins, Noel Hudson, Alison Lawrence, David McFadden, Jane Rule, Jean Rysstad, Libby Scheier, Cathy Smith, and David Watmough.

The fonds consists of personal, business and publishing correspondence (1953-1982), and also five handwritten letters to Arthur William Wallace (1931-1978); typescripts of O'Hagan's unpublished autobiography, proposed novels and unpublished short stories and articles; notes, variant drafts and page proofs of "The School-Marm Tree"; photographs of O'Hagan and other O'Hagan family members and friends; published articles about O'Hagan and his work, programmes of ceremonies, greeting cards, and bibliography of O'Hagan's works; audio tape interview with O'Hagan, conducted by E.J. Hart in Victoria. Also included is a small amount of Margaret Peterson (O'Hagan) material, consisting of a typescript of "My Life With Howard O'Hagan" and manuscript poetry drafts.

The fonds consists of personal papers including a diary (1923) and correspondence; professional papers, including: appreciations, music, copywriting, magazine publications; and papers that he collected including pamphlets, press clippings and ephemera.

The fonds consists of: 1) correspondence - mainly with fellow writers including Patrick Lane, Susan Musgrave, George Payerle, Robin Skelton, and George Woodcock and with publishers; 2) manuscripts - mainly of his own poetry, drama, and prose, including a BC Bibliography of Literature; 3) notebooks - in which appear ideas, diary entries, drafts of work, etc.; and 4) audio cassettes (not yet listed).