The fonds consists of correspondence, photographs, sound recordings, and notes produced by McAlpine (formerly known as Mary McAlpine Dodds) and related authors, friends, and family. Correspondents include Ethel Wilson, Wallace Wilson, Margaret Laurence, Beverly Mitchell, Nan Cheney, Dorothy Livesay, and others.

Fonds consists of correspondence and reports relating to de Bruyn's duties as a member of the Department of English at UBC. The fonds also include incoming personal correspondence from Roy Daniells (including verses), Earle Birney, Margaret Laurence, Dorothy Livesay and Ethel Wilson. Also included are records from the Lifewriters: copies of stories, correspondence, financial records, and newspaper clippings.