The Wilma Belden Collins papers date from 1921 to 1992 and measure 11 linear inches. The papers are divided into seven series: Biographical material, Certificates and awards, Correspondence, Newspaper clippings, Scrapbooks, Photographs and Ruth, Virginia Lynn Collins (daughter). The seventh series was added to the collection in 1996. The bulk of the material is related to Collins' work as a newspaper editor and columnist.

The first series, Biographical material, (1974 and undated) consists of a narrative sketch of Wilma Belden Collins, two lists relating to her employment, membership in organizations and a copy of her entries in The World Who's Who of Women and The International Register of Profiles.

Certificates and awards (1946-1947 and undated) include recognition for journalistic endeavors as well as for work in various organizations.

Correspondence (1950-1992 and undated) is mostly congratulatory, including a letter from Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt for Collins' work as a correspondent for the Grimes News and Dallas Center Times Weekly in 1951.

Newspaper clippings (1947-1983) consists of newspaper articles written by or about Collins and the premier issue of The Iowan magazine.

Two Scrapbooks (1921-1951) form the bulk of the collection. The first is made up of a scrapbook compiled by Wilma Belden Collins while she was a student at Minburn High School from 1924 to 1926. Included are many photographs. The second is an oversize scrapbook consisting primarily of the newspaper column "It's...YOUR TOWN, TOO!," written by Collins for the Grimes News from 1946 to 1952.

Photographs (1940s-1985 and undated) are arranged chronologically and divided primarily by the organizations to which Collins belonged. Also included is a publicity folder, consisting of stills of Collins; a family folder with photographs of Collin's family; and a miscellaneous folder, which includes photographs of Governor Terry Brandstad, Ralph Nader, Mary Pickford, White House Press Correspondent Helen Thomas, and Margaret Truman.

The Ruth, Virginia Lynn Collins series (1961-1984) consists of Ruth's artwork as collected by her mother, Wilma Belden Collins. Most of the artwork are prints of Ruth's pen and ink drawings of buildings in her suburban community of Hinsdale, Illinois. The series also contains papers from Ruth's involvement in the local art council and its efforts to save a historical dormitory in Hinsdale as a community art center.