The fonds consists of Coulthard's incoming family and general correspondence, correspondence from noted English composer Elizabeth Poston, financial records, biographical information, printed material and clippings documenting her involvement in the Canadian and International music communities as an advocate, educator and composer. Also included are original manuscripts of Coulthard's compositions and published and unpublished sound recordings of her work performances. The fonds also contain scrapbooks assembled by Coulthard's mother, Jean Robinson Coulthard, between 1898 and 1929, family photographs, and a photograph album compiled by her father, Dr. Walter Coulthard, depicting the Rossland area (ca. 1902).
Fonds are arranged into two sous-fonds: Jean Coulthard sous-fonds and Coulthard family sous-fonds. Jean Coulthard sous-fonds was organized into the following series: Correspondence (two sub-series, Coulthard-Poston Correspondence and Family Correspondence), Financial and Legal, Biography, Programmes, Publications, Press Clippings, Manuscripts, Sound recordings, Miscellaneous, Photographs, Performance Notes and Remarks, Musical Education and Workshops, Inspirations, Journals and Date Books, and Audio Visual.

Sub-series consists of correspondence between Elizabeth Poston and Jean Coulthard recording their friendship and shared professional interests; sub-series also include a copy of "Elizabeth Poston Post-Centenary 2005 Appreciation," which discusses Poston's friendship and correspondence with Coulthard throughout the years. Sub-series are arranged chronologically.

Series comprised biographical materials relating to Coulthard, including various versions of her curriculum vitae, bibliographies of her compositions, and lists of her awards and achievements. Also included are materials relating to presentations made by Coulthard, including notes and drafts of speeches and transcripts of interviews. In addition, the series contains Coulthard's birth records and staff records related to her time at UBC.

Series consists of a collection of newspapers clippings reviewing, discussing or publicizing Coulthard's compositions or projects. Also included are biographical sketches and interviews with Coulthard in the form of clippings.

Series includes handwritten drafts and sketches of Coulthard's compositions. Series includes complete compositions, later published, and several unidentified fragments and works in progress. Many manuscripts are annotated with rough notes and performance layouts. Also included are handwritten exercises produced during Coulthard's studies with Bernard Wagenaar. A significant accession received in 2000 had over 400 musical manuscripts created between 1917 and 1997. A detailed chronological description of these manuscripts prepared by researchers William Bruneau and David Duke is available in PDF form here (428 pages, 1.03MB).

Series consists of handwritten notes and remarks by Coulthard herself on various performances of her music.

Series consists of records documenting Coulthard's involvement with Canada Music Week and the Okanagan Music Festival for Composers, along with course material for various music composition classes that Coulthard taught at UBC. Series also includes copies of some annotated compositions of former music students.

Series consists of Coulthard's journals and datebooks marking professional and personal engagements of her life throughout different calendar years.

Sous-fonds arranged in the following series: Correspondence, Financial and Legal, Biography, Programmes, Publications, Press Clippings, Manuscripts, Sound recordings, Miscellaneous, Photographs, Performance Notes and Remarks, Musical Education and Workshops, Inspirations, Journals and Date Books, and Audio Visual.

Series is composed of a collection of articles, clippings, and offprints relating to Coulthard or projects she was involved in.

Series contains LPs, 78's, and tape recordings in which various Canadian and International musicians have recorded Coulthard's music. Also included are transcriptions of CBC Radio broadcasts during which Coulthard's music was performed. In addition, the series consists of several unpublished recordings of her compositions produced by Coulthard. Finally, many of the published performances have critical notes written by Coulthard on the sleeves of the disk.

Series consists of pamphlets, articles, and invitations to social events received and collected by Jean Coulthard. In addition, the series contains materials relating to her various awards.

Series comprised incoming personal and professional correspondence relating to Coulthard's roles as teacher, adjudicator and composer. Also included are some drafts of outgoing correspondence. Series primarily arranged alphabetically and chronologically based on Coulthard's filing system. Series includes two sub-series: a) Coulthard-Poston Correspondence (1948-1979); b) Family Correspondence (1888-1998).

Sub-series consists of correspondence between Jean Coulthard and family members (husband Donald Adams and daughter Jane Adams), and early correspondence addressed to Jean Coulthard's parents, Walter and Jean Robinson. Sub-series arranged chronologically.

Series consists of royalty statements, invoices, agreements, and writers clearance forms relating to the use and performance of Coulthard's compositions. Also included are materials relating to grants received by Coulthard and contracts relating to commissions.

Series consists of photocopies of Coulthard's idea book, pamphlets, and a collection of annotated, published books that influenced Coulthard in her musical compositions and lyrics.

Series consists of audio and visual recordings in various formats that document the life and music of Jean Coulthard.

Series contains a collection of programmes gathered by Coulthard relating to musical and social events at which her music was performed or celebrated.

Series consists of photographs, many autographed, of Jean Coulthard's colleagues. Series also includes family photographs and formal portraits of Coulthard.

Sous-fonds consists of scrapbooks of photographs, clippings, and leaflets assembled by Coulthard's mother, Jean Robinson Coulthard, between 1898 and 1929, documenting her career as a music teacher as the recital performances of her children and students. Sous-fonds also includes scrapbooks compiled by Jean Coulthard's sister Margaret, family photographs, and an album compiled by her father, Dr. Walter Coulthard, depicting the Rossland area (ca. 1902).