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 Also included are original manuscripts of Coulthard's compositions and published and unpublished sound recordings of her work performances.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.

Fonds consists of records generated by Helen Dahlstroms activities in her capacity as a pianist, accompanist, music teacher, choir conductor, examiner, adjudicator, and national, provincial and international arts and music boards. The records relate to personal and administrative daily activities concerning music and the arts, mainly in western Canada and to a lesser extent in the United States, England, France and Africa. The records consist of personal and administrative correspondence, newspaper clippings, concert programs, newsletters of music associations, bibliographies of chief Canadian composers, material relating to music teaching, histories of music associations and musicians, curriculum vitae, speeches, Canadian music sheets, jury lists and schedules of music examinations, music evaluation notes, financial records, grant proposals, promotional material, annual reports of music associations, minutes of meetings of music associations, and miscellaneous material. In addition to the textual records, the fonds consists of a small number of photographs. The records have been arranged into the following series:
• Biographical material (1929-1993)
• Personal correspondence (1940-1999)
• Records relating to Canada Music Week committee (1970-1992)
• Records relating to Music and Arts organizations (1968-1992)
• Miscellaneous photographs (between 1970 and 1990)