The Marilyn E. (Harris) Jackson papers date from 1931 to 2016 and measure 17.5 linear inches (4 boxes). The papers are arranged in seven series: Biography, Peggy A. L. Shriver, Marie Tharp, Toolesboro Mounds, Artifacts, Writings, and Dr. Bruce Heezen.

The Biography series consists of personal papers Jackson saved. Most of the personal papers are from Jackson's days as a student at the State University of Iowa (now the University of Iowa). There are several compositions Jackson wrote for a "Modern Prose" class she took in 1946 that was taught by Carrie Stanley (for whom Stanley Hall is named). The 1945 pamphlet Code for Coeds gives rules, regulations, and suggestions for being a successful coed. There is also a brochure from the University Women's Association Vocational Conference of 1948 that suggests career choices for women and contains several period advertisements from local Iowa City establishments. The biography series also has papers concerning the First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City, Iowa, general correspondence, pamphlets from the 20th Century Club, materials Jackson collected for possible writing projects, and photographs from Jackson’s younger years.

The Peggy A. L. Shriver series consists of a 2002 biographical update of Shriver and correspondence between Shriver and Jackson. Peggy Shriver was born in Iowa and earned a PhD from Central College in Pella, Iowa. She served in many staff and leadership positions with the Presbyterian Church, US, the National Council of Churches of Christ, USA, and other national and international religious and peacemaking organizations. (Books by Shriver are shelved in the IWA printed works collection).

The Marie Tharp series consists primarily of letters written by oceanographer Tharp to Jackson. It also contains handwritten notes Jackson kept regarding Tharp's life and experiences. The series contains an article Tharp co-authored in 1986 for Natural History, a 1999 article about the Lamont-Doherty Conservatory of Columbia University in New York where Tharp worked and did much of her oceanography research, and a 1999 article regarding Tharp's receipt of the Women Pioneers in Oceanography Award. This series also contains poems that Tharp's father, W.E. Tharp, gave to his daughter and a soil survey he authored in 1931 for Monroe County, Iowa, when he was working for the US Bureau of Chemistry and Soils. Marie Tharp attended school in Albia, Iowa, while her father conducted his soil survey of Monroe County. The poems and the soil survey, along with the Natural History article, are all mentioned by Tharp in two letters she wrote to Jackson on October 22, 1986.

The Toolesboro Mounds series consists of the research materials, notes, and drafts Jackson accumulated as she prepared an article on the ancient Indian burial site for The Iowan. The series contains correspondence dealing with the proposed article, secondary research materials Jackson collected, Jackson's handwritten notes, numerous drafts, and several photographs of the mound site that Jackson took herself.

The Artifacts series consists of a carbon paper box typical of the 1940s in which Jackson stored her essays and class assignments for the Modern Prose class she took at the State University of Iowa during her sophomore year, 1946-1947.

The Writings series consists of Jackson’s articles and preparation for writing. This includes her work for the Kent Feeds in Muscatine, Iowa, her widely published article “The Five Minute Letter”, the research for her article “The Great River Collection” about the Muscatine Art Center, and her various magazine publications. There are also nineteen copies of The Iowan in the series. Each have at least one article by Jackson in them.

The Dr. Bruce Heezen series consists of research about Jackson’s school friend Bruce Heezen for several articles about the oceanographer after his death. This includes detailed reports about the last mapping mission he went on, correspondence with Marie Tharp about their mutual friend, and published articles about Heezen. It also contains letters and information from Dr. Walter Youngquist, a geologist, who worked closely with Heezen. He wanted to start a memorial scholarship in memory of the oceanographer and wanted Tharp and Jackson’s opinions about where to create the fund. Eventually the Dr. Bruce Heezen Memorial Scholarship was established in 2008 at Muscatine High School.