The fonds consists of the business records created and/or collected by Lazara Press and its founder Penny Goldsmith, predominately from the early 1980s to the late 1990s. The records are loosely divided into two main categories: administrative and publication records. The administrative records contain material documenting the different functions of Lazara Press, including promotional/distribution information, financial records, memberships information, and correspondence Lazara Press had with other printing presses and booksellers in Canada and in Europe. Other administrative records include materials pertaining to projects Goldsmith was involved in, either as a representative of Lazara Press or of her own initiative.

The publication records contain material relating to the publication process of the various broadsheets, chapbooks, volumes of poetry, plays, short stories, and essays printed by Lazara Press. These records include drafts and manuscripts, layouts and prototypes, as well as the published editions of many of these works. Other records include correspondence between Lazara Press and various authors, contracts, promotional information, reviews, and distribution lists.

The fonds is divided into eleven series: Promotion and distribution; Lazara Press business records; Literary associations and publishing groups; Literary festivals and book fairs; Publishers; Editing + consulting; Penny Goldsmith articles; Other projects; Lazara published books; Broadsides and chapbooks; and Discussion series. The last three series are further divided into subseries, typically by author name but occasionally by the title of a publication.

Series mainly contains textual records pertaining to works such as books of poetry, short stories, and plays published by Lazara Press in the early 1980s to the mid 2000s. These records include manuscripts and drafts and, in many cases, the final print edition of these works. Other records include correspondence, contracts, production information, reviews, promotion, and distribution information. The series also contains copies of manuscripts submitted to Lazara Press, but not published by Press. The photographs included in this series are typically images of the author and/or other images featured within the published edition of a work.

Series mainly contains textual records pertaining to the broadsheets and chapbooks published by Lazara Press predominately in the mid 1980s to the mid 1990s. These records include drafts of the broadsides or chapbooks, and, in many cases, the final print edition of these works. Other records includes correspondence, layouts, art, drafts, proofs, and receipts. The photographs included in this series are images featured in the published edition of the work associated with the photos.

Series contains textual records related to Lazara Press's <i>Discussion Series</i> publications. These publications are described on Lazara's website as being "a forum for provocative and challenging essays and speeches which address current issues of interest and concern". The series contains both drafts and final copies of each essay, as well as other records such as correspondence, contracts, distribution and cataloguing information, newspaper and magazine clippings, and court transcripts.

Series includes articles written by Goldsmith on various social issues, as well as articles related to publishing. The series also contains reviews of works published by Lazara Press.

Series contains textual records related to projects Goldsmith was involved in as an editor and/or in a consultant role outside of Lazara Press. Records includes editing notes, layouts, correspondence, manuscripts, reviews and broadsheets.

Series contains textual records pertaining to various festivals and events around Canada and in Europe that Goldsmith partook in on behalf of Lazara Press. Records include conference information, programmes, newsletters, bulletins, promotional material, correspondence, travel and registration information.

Series includes textual records pertaining to local and Canadian publishing companies with whom Goldsmith associated with. These records include publisher catalogues, correspondence, articles, obituaries, interview transcripts, reports, minutes, and promotional material.

Series contains textual records related to the different associations and groups in which Goldsmith and Lazara Press were associated with. Records include group membership information, memorandums, minutes, reports, brochures, agendas, policies and correspondence.

Series includes projects that Goldsmith and/or authors associated with Lazara Press were involved in over the 1990s and 2000s. Textual records includes artwork, an interview transcript, order forms, correspondence, newspaper clippings, a keynote speech, a letter of agreement, and promotional material. The photographs in the file depict various events happening in the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood of Vancouver.

Series contains textual records related to the promotion and/or distribution of Lazara Press publications. The records include flyers, order forms, correspondence, catalogues, media contacts, mailing lists, advertising rates, layouts, and documentation related to Poetry in Transit.

Series contains textual records related to the administrative component of Lazara Press, mainly records related to its day to day business operations. Records include correspondence, financial information, notes, book rates, advertising, layouts, royalty information, tax information, labels, notes, book listings, loan agreements, orders and invoices, and a directory of bookstores and other companies Lazara Press conducted business with.

Subseries contains a copy of Laurie Nerman's broadside <i>When Activism Stops</i> and correspondence.

Subseries contains textual records pertaining to Jacqueline Marcus' poetry chapbook titled <i>No Excuses</i>. The records include drafts of the chapbook, as well as the published edition, and copies of correspondence between Marcus and Lazara Press.

Subseries contains drafts of Acorn's poem <i>The Tamarack Review</i>.

Subseries contains textual records related to the broadsides created by Helen Potrebenko and published by Lazara Press including: <i>17 Years and a Coffee Truck</i>, <i>"Almost Morningside" - An Excerpt</i>, <i>Displacement</i>, <i>I Was Riding Home </i>, <i>La Critique Litteraire</i>, <i>Encore une faute de frappe toute bete</i>, <i>Dictatyping</i>, and other unpublished works. Records include drafts of Potrebenko's broadsides and chapbooks, and, in many cases, the published editions as well. Other records include correspondence, invoices, reviews, and production records such as layouts and prototypes.

Subseries contains textual records related to the works of Helen Potrebenko published by Lazara Press, including <i>Two Years on the Muckamuck Line</i>, <i>Taxi</i>, <i>Riding Home and Other Poems</i>, <i>Letters to Maggie</i>, <i>Hey Waitress and Other Stories</i>, <i>Life, Love + Unions </i>, <i>Walking Slow</i>, and other unpublished chapbooks and collections of poems. Records include drafts and manuscripts, as well as the published editions of many of Potrebenko's works. Other records include correspondence, invoices, reviews and promotional information, distribution lists, and production records such as layouts and prototypes. The photographs in this subseries are images taken and/or selected to be featured in Potrebenko's published works.

Subseries contains textual records related to Marusya Bociurkiw's work of poetry titled <i>Halfway to the East</i>. These records include drafts of the work, as well as copies of correspondence and the contract between Bociurkiw and Lazara Press. Other records include other copies of correspondence related to the work, reviews and promotions of <i>Halfway</i> and other poems by Bociurkiw, and records related to the production of the work. The subseries also contains a copy of Bociurkiw's poem "Radio Nights," both in English and in German.

Subseries contains textual records related to Shelia Baxter's play titled <i>Death in a Dumpster: A Passion Play for the Homeless</i>. These records include correspondence, reviews and promotions of <i>Death in a Dumpster</i>, as well as records related to the production of the work. The file also contains copies of promotional material for other events happening in the Downtown Eastside. The photographs contained in this subseries are images featured in the <i>Death in a Dumpster</i> publication.

Subseries contains textual records related to Margaret Hollingsworth's volume of short stories titled <i>Smiling Under Water</i>. These records include drafts of the volume as well as copies of correspondence and the contract between Hollingsworth and Lazara Press. Other records include reviews and promotions of <i>Smiling</i> and other works by Hollingsworth. The photographs are of Hollingsworth featured in the published book.

Subseries contains textual records pertaining to Jane Rule's "Detained at Customs" publication in Lazara Press' Discussion Series. This essay discusses the Little Sisters Bookstore vs Canadian Customs court cause in 1986. The subseries contains a copy of the published edition of the chapbook. Other records included in the subseries include newspaper and magazine clippings about Rule and/or her publication, correspondence, court transcripts, and Rule's obituary/celebration of life. The CD-ROM is a brief video clip depicting Margaret Atwood speaking about Rule after Rule's death in 2007.

Subseries contains general textual records pertaining to Lazara Press' Discussion Series publications, such as mailing lists and inquiries made to and from Goldsmith about potential future publications in the series.

Subseries contains two copies of Musgrave's broadside <i>The situation in which we are both amateurs</i>.

Subseries contains textual records related to Jacqueline Oker's broadside poem titled <i>Remember</i>. The records include drafts of the poem, as well as the published broadside. Other records include Oker's biographical information, correspondence, and copies of other unpublished poems written by Oker.

Subseries contains textual records pertaining to pj flemming's broadside poem titled <i>Santa Cowboy Down on Main Street</i>. The records include copies of the published broadside, as well as other records such as copies of correspondence between flemming and Lazara Press, invoices, and publishing information.

Subseries contains textual records pertaining to Jo Corrillo's broadside poem <i>And When You Leave Take Your Pictures with You</i>. Records include drafts and the final published edition of the broadside, as well as correspondence, invoices, and receipts.

Subseries contains textual records pertaining to Erin Mouré's poem <i>Coming Forward</i>. The records include a draft and the final published edition of the poem, as well as two invoices.

Subseries contains textual records pertaining to Cuthand's works including: <i>Horse Dance to Emerald Mountain</i>, <i>Voices in the Waterfall</i> and <i>Crossing the Lake</i>. Records include drafts and manuscripts, correspondence, layouts, and other publishing information about Cuthand's works.

Subseries contains textual records pertaining to Leslie Hall's poetry broadside titled <i>35 Stones</i>. The records include drafts and layouts of the broadside, as well as copies of the published edition. Other records include correspondence, order forms, and invoices.