The Marjorie Vandervelde collection dates from 1855 to 2008 and measures 7 linear feet. The majority of the collection consists of published writings and original photographs from newspapers, magazines, and juvenile magazines from the late 1950s to 2001. The collection consists of five series: Family, Correspondence, Writings, Presentations, Awards, and Photographs. Marjorie Vandervelde organized much of the material according to subject before donation. Her explanatory and identifying notes are included with the materials or in the first folder of sub-series. The series order reflects the organization of Vandervelde wherever possible. This collection is extraordinary for its writing and photography about primitive peoples and isolated cultures around the world, but also includes personal papers and records from the Mills family and extensive correspondence from Kent Vandervelde while he served in the military from the late 1950s until the 1980s. Additional material donated between 2005 and 2008 have been integrated into the existing series.

The Family series consists of items from and about the Burgess, Mills, and Vandervelde families. A medical account book of Ernest Mills from his practice in Illinois from 1896 to 1900 provides valuable medical history. Stories by Marjorie, Glenn, and Ernest Mills about family members are included here along with a color photocopy of the cartooned life of Glenn Mills by Dean Gaunt. Of particular note is the original World War I photograph album of Glenn Mills depicting his service in the Navy during the war. There is also a set of maps and drawings of the Vandervelde family farm drawn by Andrew Vandervelde in 1923. This series also includes a scrapbook of family photographs and writings. An audiocassette tape of Kent Vandervelde describing his Navy experiences as well as an interview by Emmetsburg High School student Jess Horsley and his mother Maureen Horsley are included in this series.

The Correspondence series includes letters between Marjorie and her brothers Ernest and Glenn and her son Kent. Letters by her son Kent from1965include several from Vietnam where he was stationed during the conflict. A list of contents is located in the folder of correspondence from notable correspondents. This series includes a photocopy of an informative 1941 letter from Grant Wood to Nellie Burgess. This series also includes letters taped onto audiocassettes that Marjorie Vandervelde sent and received from her close friend Marvel Iglesias and interviews with other Kuna tribal members.

The Writings series forms the bulk of the collection. Vandervelde combined a love of travel and adventure and a commitment to help children understand people of diverse cultures to devote much of her writing career to juvenile magazine articles. These, along with news and magazine features about travel and characters comprise the majority of the series. Three scrapbooks of her writings are included in this series. Her books are available in the Iowa Authors section of the University of Iowa Libraries Special Collections Department.

The Presentations and Awards series includes the scripts of various talks she gave around the state about her experience travelling and writing. It also includes various writing awards Vandervelde and other family members received.

The Photographs series consists of many photographs that Vandervelde took to illustrate her stories and articles. These are almost exclusively of diverse peoples and cultures, with additional photographs of family members and family activities.

Partial list of Vandervelde travels: Carribean, 1952; Southwestern United States and Mexico (?),1956; Cuba, 1958; Northwest Territories, 1958; Taos, 1961; Florida, Appalachians, and Texas, 1962; Seattle World Fair, 1962; San Blas Islands, 1963 and every three years through 1993; Southern United States, 1964; Hawaii, 1966; Mexico and Guatemala 1967; Mexico, 1970; Alaska in 1967, and British Columbia, 1971, 1976, 1979, and 1982; Southern United States, 1968; Tonga and Samoa, 1969; Europe and Iceland, 1970; South America, 1972; Bering Sea, 1975; Middle East, 1978; Haiti, 1978; Wyoming, 1984; China, 1987; Africa, 1988; Mexico and Guatemala 1967; Mexico, 1970; Alaska in 1967; British Columbia, 1971, 1976, 1979, and 1982; Southern United States, 1968; Tonga and Samoa, 1969; Europe and Iceland, 1970; South America, 1972; Bering Sea, 1975; Middle East, 1978; Haiti, 1978; Wyoming, 1984; China, 1987; Africa, 1988.