The Lida Cochran papers date from 1917 to 2006 and measure 7.9 linear feet. The papers are arranged in four series: Biographical information, Visual Scholars Program, Photographs, and Artifacts.

The Biographical Information series (1981-2006) consists of notes of an interview with Lida Cochran in 2002. This includes a summary of the origins and development of the Visual Scholars Program at the University of Iowa. Included is the pageant written and directed by Cochran to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the founding of the Shawnee Indian Mission in Kansas City, Kansas, a letter that details the car accident that lead to her first husband Harry Myer's death, a memoir written by her second husband, Lee W. Cochran, and letters of congratulations on her retirement in 1987. Two biographical videocassettes complete the series. The first is a 1996 interview with Ellen Buchanan on the Iowa City Public Library program, One of A Kind. The second is a recording of Cochran's 90th birthday celebration in 2001, which consists of a biographical collage of photographs and an open-mike forum with her friends and family.

The Visual Scholars Program series (1973-1990) consists of three subseries: Departmental History, Class Materials, and Research Presentations. The Departmental History subseries (1973-1980) contains administrative documents and correspondence pertaining to the early development of the Visual Scholars Program. The Advisory Committee meeting minutes and Kodak Report provide insight into the program's vision, goals, and agenda. The Class Materials subseries (1975-1979) contains course outlines and teaching materials for classes taught in the Visual Scholars Program. The Research and Presentations subseries (1973-1990) consists of articles and audiovisual productions written and produced by Cochran for scholarly journals, along with drafts, manuscripts, and correspondence with editors, co-authors, and colleagues. Included are presentations given by Cochran at local schools and national organizations. Papers, bibliographies and reviews of literature relevant to the study of visual language written by Visual Scholars students and faculty comprise the Research by Others subseries. A finding aid for the Lida Cochran papers retained within the Visual Literacy Collection at Arizona State University Libraries completes the series.

The Photographs series (1917-2001) contains Cochran's family albums and memory books, and photographs of herself, husband, and son on vacation in Washington. Included is an album of photographs honoring Cochran at her 90th birthday party. Cochran's professional photography includes action and landscape images taken throughout Washington, and studio portraits of children. Photographs of Visual Scholars students and faculty interacting and presenting at conferences and visual literacy slides are included in this series.

The Artifacts series consists of Cochran's photography award ribbons, bowling club patches, a hand-sewn purse, beadwork, and membership pins. These pins include the Iowa Century Club, Iowa President's Club, Iowa Majority, IVLA, AECT, U.S. Army Officers Family pin, and a high school ring.