The Marie Manning Papers consist primarily of correspondence and typescripts. There are also photographs of the family, principally of Manning's son, Oliver Gasch (born 4 May 1906), as well as photographs of women working in industry during World War II. Letters to Manning from her friend Olivia Torrence span a lifetime and provide valuable documentation of a long-term friendship between women. World War II correspondence between Manning and her son, Oliver Gasch, is an excellent example of that genre, the more so because both saved the letters. In addition, there are short missives from Eleanor Roosevelt to Marie Manning, as well as several photographs of the two women together. Others of note in the collection are the Earl of Halifax, Harold Ickes, and Margaret Chase Smith. The writings contained in this collection, especially those relating to the "Dear Beatrice Fairfax" advice column, offer insight into the domestic and marital problems encountered by the women of Manning's time (and in some cases by the men as well). Although the column was originally "advice for the lovelorn," it evolved over time to encompass practical solutions to a wide range of problems encountered by ordinary citizens, particularly with the advent of World War II. Most of the collection dates from the 1920s to 1945, and types of material include correspondence, photographs, and typescripts of writings, as well as Manning's "featherweight" typewriter.

This collection is organized into four series:

• I. Biographical Material
• II. Correspondence
• III. Writings
• IV. Subject Files
• Oversize Materials