The Helen Knievel papers date from 1973 to and measure 7.5 linear inches. The papers are arranged in four series: Biographical, Articles, Professional, and Conferences and Programs.

The Biographical series consists of limited correspondence, certificates and awards from Beta Phi Mu (International Library Science Honor Society), and Helen Knievel's memoir. The memoir contains information about Knievel's life growing upin Cherokee, Iowa, her education, marriage, and more detailed descriptions ofher various positions as a librarian.

In the course of her career in library science, Helen Knievel wrote various articles for local newspapers as well as professional journals. The Articles series contains copies of these articles in both manuscript and published form. Many of the articles address issues of importance to rural librarians such as the difficulties faced by librarians working alone. Some of the articles also discuss subjects of interest to various patrons of the libraries, specifically children and the elderly.

The Professional series contains records from Helen Knievel's positions at the Northeast Iowa Regional Library System and at the Yankton, South Dakota public library. These records include information about projects Knievel worked on with the Northeast Iowa Regional Library System, including a children's materials course. This series also includes the scrapbook containing letters, cards, and photographs presented to Knievel at her retirement from the Northeast Iowa Regional Library System in 1980. This scrapbook, originally contained in a plastic binder, was removed from the binder and placed in folders for archival preservation purposes.

The Conferences and Programs series contains Helen Knievel's records of her attendance at professional conferences as well as her own notes and preparation for conferences that she helped to coordinate. Of specific interest to researchers looking for information on rural Iowa would be the materials for the "Services to Farmers" conference that Knievel prepared in 1979. Also of note are the conference materials for the Midwest Federation of Library Associations, the Rural Library Association, and the American Library Association.