The fonds consists of records chronicling various facets of Howard's long career in mining-related activities. It includes material from his student days, his years at Eldorado Gold Mines, and his years as a professor at the University of British Columbia. The fonds includes photographs reflecting the development of mining equipment and technology. In particular, the numerous photographs from Howard's Eldorado days (1942-1946) depict not only mining operations but also capture aspects of social life in Port Radium, a remote community near the Arctic Circle.

The fonds consists of correspondence, addresses, reports, printed materials, field notes and clippings relating to Knapp's professional interests and activities. In addition, the fonds contains course materials, minutes of meetings, and administrative records relating to the UBC Faculty of Forestry. The fonds also contains photographs and slides documenting the Faculty of Forestry and its students as well as the University Research Forest.