The Mary Rouse papers measure 7 linear feet and date from 1937 to 2000. The papers are arranged into two series: Personal and University of Iowa News Services. The collection centers on Rouse's professional career at the University of Iowa, where she worked at UI News Services until her retirement in 1981.

The series titled Personal consists of two boxes. Rouse's manuscript, "I Hear A Meadowlark Singing" is not open to researchers. This series also contains correspondence from the Associated Press, kudos, and rejection letters. Her 1967 second- place award for news bureau feature is enclosed, as well as a copy of the winning story of a test developed at the University of Iowa to measure musical talent in children. Enclosed are short stories, biographical information, and details of her retirement. This series houses her early poetry about children and nature, and her short stories where she dabbled with the pen name Christopher King in "Reprieve". Her membership in AAUW is detailed here, as is her early employment in Fort Madison, Minnesota and at Marygrove college for women in Detroit.

The second series is University of Iowa News Services, largely made up of Rouse's articles on the accomplishments and discoveries of faculty and staff. Subseries include: Handbooks, Faculty and Staff, UI Departments, Features, Usage, and C.A.S.E.

Three handbooks outline procedures for new employees of University of Iowa News Services. Faculty and Staff articles are arranged alphabetically by member name. UI Department articles focus on events by department. The subseries, Features, consists of her news stories not limited to University of Iowa personages. She wrote extensively about the arts, how to stay healthy, and home economics, which included cooking, housework, and home repairs. The first box is arranged chronologically; the next two boxes are arranged alphabetically; the fourth box is arranged by newspaper title, and box five by magazine title. Rouse maintained records of the many publications that ran her stories, and these are in subseries Usage. Rouse was involved in Council for Advancement and Support of Education (C.A.S.E.), and her work is preserved in this subseries.