The Katharine La Sheck papers measure 7.5 linear inches and date from 1904 to 1971, the bulk of the contents date from LaSheck's childhood and early performing career as a singer with the College Girls (1911-1915) and The Marigold Quartet (1915-1920). Many photographs from this period enrich the collection. The papers are arranged in four series: Biographical information, Childhood and education, Professional career, and Photographs.

Biographical information consists of a photocopy of a biography of La Sheck by Sister Victorine Fenton, based on materials in this collection and on the Chautauqua Collection in the Special Collections Department of the University of Iowa Libraries; scattered correspondence, 1904-1967; a few newspaper and magazine clippings; and an obituary. The Childhood and Education series includes school records and poems, prose, and drawings.

The Professional career series contains programs from the College Girls and Marigold Quartet concerts; original theme music for the Marigolds; Chautauqua contracts; and many newspaper reviews of the concerts the quartets presented throughout the country. Completing the series are memorabilia from the Panama trips with the College Girls, scattered items from her career after the Marigold Quartet disbanded in 1920, and miscellaneous memorabilia.

The Photographs include portraits of La Sheck both as a young girl and a performer, and many snapshots of La Sheck and her friends from the 1910s and 1920s. Among the photographs are many images of Chautauqua performances.