The papers of Ruth Lechlitner consist of 9.5 linear feet of records, dating from 1919 to 1988. They are arranged chronologically within an alphabetical sequence. Lechlitner corresponded with many important people in literary and publishing circles, especially in the 1930s and 1940s. There are almost six boxes of correspondence, including letters from: George Abbe, Millen Brand, Witter Bynner, John Ciardi, Carroll Coleman, Paul Corey, Howard M. Corning, Norman Corwin, David DeJong, George Dillon, Erling Larsen, Jay Latimer, James Laughlin, Willard Maas, Archibald MacLeish, Jerre Mangione, Marianne Moore, Howard Moss, Lewis Mumford, Frederic Prokosch, Kenneth Rexroth, Norman Rosten, Isidor Schneider, Winfield T. Scott, Irita Van Doren, and Hendrik Willem Van Loon.

Ruth Lechlitner's poetry is well represented. Her three published volumes are documented with drafts, proofs, correspondence, and reviews. There are also examples of books that were never published or completed. Most of her individual poems appear in either draft or published form.

However, the papers of Ruth Lechlitner are more than literary correspondence and poetry. There are also glimpses of her life as a young high school girl, college student, teacher, wife, and mother; illustrated with high school scrapbooks, college recollections, teaching files, and family letters.