The Cornelia Cameron papers date from 1903 to 1995 and measure 3.25 linear feet. The papers are arranged in three series: Personal, Field notes, and Publications. The bulk of the collection documents Cameron's career as an internationally-recognized expert on peat.

The Personal series (1951-1994 and undated) includes obituaries, personal letters, and pay stubs related to Cornelia Cameron. This series contains long letters that Cameron wrote to friends and colleagues while she was stationed in Japan, Korea, and Formosa (now Taiwan), during the 1950s. This series also includes architectural records and correspondence pertaining to Harriet Cameron's Iowa City property. Photographs of Cornelia Cameron and the places where she conducted fieldwork are included in this series. Artifacts include a button from the 1976 International Peat Conference in Poznan, Poland, and a slide ruler in a leather case.

The Field notes series (1906-1993) includes journals written by Harriet and Cornelia Cameron. The notes document their geological work throughout the United States.

The Publications series (1903-1995) constitutes half the collection. This series includes articles and conference papers written and co-written by Cameron. This series contains one of Cameron's most influential textbooks, The Earth in Human Affairs. A substantial portion of Cameron's articles was published by the United States Geological Survey.