The Joann Orr papers date from 1969-2017 and measure 2.5 linear feet. The papers are arranged in nine series: Biographical, Campaigns, Correspondence, Newsletters, Legislature, Women's Issues, Newspaper Clippings, Photographs and Artifacts. The papers consist of personal and professional records and correspondence, campaign and career memorabilia and brochures, subject files, bills, committee work, photographs, and newspaper clippings, as well as resource files on the issues Orr supported, such as school nutrition, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and women's rights more generally.

The Biographical information series (1969-1991) consists of notebooks, a biographical sketch from the 1970 election, and the transcript of an oral history interview with Orr conducted by Suzanne Schenken in 1989. The interview is indexed; it focuses on Orr's legislative career. The Campaigns series (1969-1978) documents her electoral campaigns and includes lists of donors and volunteers, district information, a sample ballot, personal notes, press releases, and campaign pamphlets and signs. The Correspondence series (1968-1984) consists of Orr's official correspondence, including senate report newsletters, letters from constituents and fellow politicians, and a folder of Orr's letters to constituents congratulating their daughters on academic and social accomplishments.

The Newsletters series (1973-1975) includes Orr's senate reports detailing her work in the legislature.

The Legislature series (1970-1984) contains the notes, clippings, correspondence, legislation that Orr sponsored and co-sponsored during her legislative tenure. The bulk of the series relates to the 1980 breakfast bill to provide breakfast for low-income K-12 students in Iowa and to Orr's co-sponsorship of the Food and Drug Tax bill to remove the sales tax from food and prescription drugs.

The Women's Issues series (1974-1980) documents Orr's role as an activist for women's political causes and social issues. The series contains newspaper clippings on abortion, ERA brochures and correspondence, Order of Female Legislators' material, and a project to monitor sex equity in vocational education in response to Title IX.

The Newspaper Clippings (1969-1979) series has clippings of campaigns ads, stories on Iowa legislation, featured in the Grinnell Herald Register, and an article about Orr being named "Feminist of the Year" by Grinnell's NOW chapter.

The Photographs series (1973-1979) chronicles Orr's political career. Specific photographic include Carl Orr, Governor Robert Ray signing legislation, and of Orr dressed as Betsy Ross, to recall the days when the Constitution was signed, during a vote on a controversial bill.

The Artifacts series includes booklets on tax levies, expenditures, committees; a certificate from the Kiwanis Club, an ERA flag, and an emery board inscribed "Elect Joann Orr State Senator Democrat" from one of Joann Orr's campaigns.