The collection consists of materials acquired or collected by Elmer K. Nelson, primarily relating to the UBC criminology programme and his work for the B.C. Office of Corrections. It includes biographical information (1954-2007), correspondence (1952-1987), newspaper clippings (1952-1957), and publications (1953-1957). Also included is an audio cassette recording (catalogue # UBC 3415) of an interview with Nelson. Corrections Branch History Committee, dated 1978. Additionally, a copy of an article written by Gary Parkinson in 2007, "Recovering the early history of Canadian criminology: Criminology at the University of British Columbia, 1951 to 1959", is included at the request of the collector.

Fonds contains records pertaining to the separate careers and personal lives of both Verna Huffman Splane and Richard Splane, and their life together as a couple. Work records reflect Richard’s work in Alberta, his time in the RCAF, and his lengthy career in the federal government as well as Verna’s work for WHO, the federal government, and as a faculty member at UBC and the University of Victoria. These records include government reports, meeting minutes and agenda, correspondence, articles, course outlines and notes. Personal records reflect both Richard and Verna’s social lives and interest in social welfare outside of their careers. These records include correspondence, curriculum vitae, photographs (print and digital), notes, articles and publications, meeting minutes and agenda, and certificates.
The records reflecting Richard and Verna’s joint life has been arranged into eight series: Chief Nursing Officers Study, Home and Social Life, Personal Correspondence, University Hill Congregation, Social Welfare Work, Honours and Awards, Photographs, and Audio-visual. The fonds also includes two sous-fonds: the Richard Beverly Splane sous-fonds and the Verna Huffman Splane sous-fonds.

The fonds consists of biographical materials, conference proceedings, reports, articles, books, sermons, speeches, talks, committee reports, correspondence, newspaper clippings, a photograph and a video tape. The fonds consists of nine series: Biographical; Publications; Speeches, Addresses and Talks; Committees; London School of Economics; Vanier Institute of the Family; Subject Files, Miscellaneous and Video Tape.