Raphael Aloysius Lafferty was born on November 7, 1914, in Neola, Iowa. He attended the University of Tulsa in 1932-1933, and the International Correspondence School from 1939-1942. He served in the military from 1942-1946, as a staff sergeant and received a New Guinea Campaign Star.

Lafferty worked in the electrical supply business for 35 years, before devoting himself to his writing career in 1960. Much of Lafferty's writings focused on the realm of science fiction. He received the Phoenix award in 1971 and was also awarded the Hugo award in 1973, for the year's best short story. R.A. Lafferty's novels include: Past Master, Arrive at Easterwine, The Flame Is Green, and many others. Lafferty has also published collections of his short stories as well as being a contributor of some 150 short stories to magazines and other publications.

The collection contains drafts of Lafferty's stories, longer writings, and correspondence. A larger collection of Lafferty's manuscripts is held by the University of Tulsa.