The fonds consists of records pertaining to the life and literary career of Carol Coates, as well as that of her brother William H. Coates (1899-1976). It includes correspondence, designs, printed material and clippings. It also contains the typescript of tributes to W.H. Coates during memorial services in 1976 as well as the typescript of Carol Coates' "Invitation to Mood" (1974-1975). Accrual consists draft poems, both typed and handwritten, and handwritten school notes from a class Coates attended at UBC.