The bulk of the collection consists of thirty-four letters written by James Merrill to William S. Burford while they were Amherst College undergraduates. Also, six pen and ink sketches from Merrill's student days at Amherst; and two copies of the final publication of (as well as a draft of credits for) the literary journal The Medusa, which Merrill and Burford co-founded.

This collection is organized into three series:

• Letters, 1946-80, [n.d.?]
• Sketches, Drawings, Notes, and Poem, c. 1945-47
• The Medusa, 1946