We have very few manuscripts of Shane's work, but many clippings by and about Shane, and a file of clippings on art. There are gathered into Series II of the collection, Clippings. Series III is Correspondence, made up of a small collection of his correspondence. His paintings for the Des Moines Sunday Register, and the century farm series in particular, generated correspondence from the public, and this correspondence is included in this series.

Shane's military records, biographical sketches, and other miscellany make up Series IV, Personal.

Shane probably worked from photographs, and there are many photographs of scenes and buildings in the collection. The photographer is unknown -- it may have been Shane. There are photographs of some paintings, some by Shane, some not. We can only assume that these were paintings which Shane admired and which he tried to imitate or at least to learn from. Photographs of Shane himself are included in the photograph series, as well as other artists, including Andy Worhol, Calder, and Dali. Also included are contact prints and negatives. These are gathered into Series V, Photographs.

Apparently, Shane did extensive research for his projects, and some of his research is included here in Series VI, Research. Examples are a file on New Orleans, which includes photographs, brochures, and one series dealing with how steeples look in paintings and photographs.