The collection contains materials that document Roy Harris' life and career. The music materials contain holograph or copyist manuscript scores and sketches for Harris' compositions as well as holograph manuscript scores, sketches, arrangements, and printed scores by other composers. There are also notes, clippings, and other materials related to specific Harris pieces. The published and unpublished writings include his articles, lectures, scripts, interviews, and drafts, in addition to articles, clippings and reviews about Harris. The correspondence chiefly consists of letters to and from Roy Harris and his wife Johana. Notable correspondents include Nadia Boulanger, John Cage, Lukas Foss, Eugene Ormandy, Vincent Persichetti, and Janos Starker. Harris' business papers relate to his professional life as a teacher and organizer of music conferences, in particular the Pittsburgh International Contemporary Music Festival. The programs and publicity files track the performance and public reception of Harris' compositions as well as Johana Harris' career as a pianist. The Roy Harris Archive Society materials document the founding of the Roy Harris Archive at California State University, Los Angeles. In addition, the collection contains financial and legal documents, photographs, scrapbooks, work files, posters, clippings, and biographical materials.