The fonds consists of manuscripts published and unpublished, which include juvenilia, poetry and story drafts, and the author's annual holograph gatherings of completed poems. The fonds includes public addresses, children's stories, periodical off prints, page proofs of A Dryad in Nanaimo, reviews, family and biographical items, photographs, certificates, recordings of poems set to music, a printers plate, biographical material, and correspondence. Correspondence includes 34 letters from former Prime Minister Robert Borden. Artwork often accompanies juvenilia verse and later children's stories; the media used include: ink on paper illustrations, pencil sketches, and watercolour drawings. Newspaper clippings include the author's columns, stories and poems. Also included are photocopies of 60 letters written by Audrey Brown to Professor Pelham Edgar (1929-47). The originals are in the Pelham Edgar collection at Victoria University, Toronto. The fonds also consists of: newspaper clippings and biographical material re Audrey Alexandra Brown and her family; correspondence between Brown and Pelham Edgar; correspondence between Brown and Earle Birney; correspondence from Martin Burrell to Pelham Edgar re Brown; manuscripts by Brown.

The fonds consists firstly, of correspondence from many well known writers such as Margaret Atwood, Doug Beardsley, bill bissett, George Bowering, Marilyn Bowering, Robert Bringhurst, Barry Callaghan, Lorna Crozier, William Deverell, Timothy Findley, John Glassco, Robert Harlow, David Homel, Patrick Lane, Dennis Lee, Charles Lillard, Dorothy Livesay, Susan Musgrave, John Newlove, Sharon Olds, Michael Ondaatje, P.K. Page, George Payerle, Al Purdy, Joe Rosenblatt, Jane Rule, Jane Urqhuhart, and Sean Virgo. It is arranged in alphabetic series. Secondly, there are prose and poetry manuscripts. These are roughly divided into poetry and prose, with some large sections of late drafts intact. Thirdly, there are materials relating to the Writer's Union of Canada, Writers in Electronic Residence, political press clippings, material about his libel trial, and miscellaneous printed material.

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).

The fonds consists of a manuscript of poetry by Henry Richard Sands, correspondence re Sands, biographical sketches of Sands written by his children, a photograph of Sands, and a photograph of Sylvia E. (Sands) Johnson.