The fonds consists of records relating to Charlesworth's tenure as secretary of the BCTF and member of the WFEA. His philosophy of education is related in his personal diary, drafts of addresses, and typescripts of two World Federation speeches, "The World Federation of Education Association: Its Past Work and Future Plans" and "Educational Frontiers of the New World."

Fonds documents the administrative, financial and publication activities of the LHA, including the production of the film "For Twenty Cents a Day"; the slide-sound programs "These Were the Reasons..."and "Strike", both about the history of union organizing in BC; and ten issues of the journal "Labour History". Records include meeting minutes, correspondence, financial records and related material pertaining to the activities of the LHA.

The fonds consists of textual records, published materials, and photographs (loose and in scrapbooks), and includes biographical information, copies of speeches and articles (1942-1975). Also included are typed manuscripts of poems and short stories, a longer typescript entitled "Kootenay Chronicle," a copy of the Academic Policy Committee Report - UBC (1963). The correspondence and clippings were gathered during Cottingham's term as president of the BCTeachers Federation, and material relating to women's issues (1952-1963).