The Penny Furgerson papers date from 1937 to 2023 and measure 7.5 linear feet. The papers are arranged in four series: Biographical information, Gateway Dance Theatre, Indo-American Association of Des Moines, and Professional.

The Biographical information series (1937-2019) includes newspaper clippings about the Furgerson family, photos of Furgerson and family members, awards and certificates awarded to Furgerson, and publications about her life and work, Furgerson’s and her grandmother’s resumes, programs for family weddings and funerals (including a funeral program for Furgerson’s grandmother, Dr. Anna Chandy Thomas), Lee B. Furgerson’s papers from high school, personal finances, and personal correspondence. The correspondence includes letters from Furgerson’s mother and grandmother in India, letters from her husband, Lee B. Furgerson, and letters and holiday cards from friends and extended family. In these letters, Lee B. Furgerson Jr. relates the racial barriers he and Penny encounter trying to find suitable housing in Des Moines in the early 1960s.

The Gateway Dance Theatre series (1971-2023) constitutes the bulk of the collection. It contains photos of and information on events, performances, and workshops held by the Gateway Dance Theatre, and Furgerson’s handwritten rehearsal and performance notes. Publicity materials, including newspaper clippings, programs, press releases, and information on various art programs in Des Moines and Iowa reflect the Furgersons' efforts to provide performance opportunities for their dancers. This series also includes a subseries of administrative records, which contains administrative documents (a list of board members includes Edna Griffin), correspondence, financial reports (with grant applications and information spanning from the 1970s to the 2010s), and student lists and registration forms.

The Indo-American Association of Des Moines series (1974-1991) consists of membership lists, treasurer's reports, incorporation papers, and flyers. Furgerson served on the executive committee of the association, which was formed by those interested in Indian culture.

The Professional series (1972-1996) consists of items related to Furgerson's employment with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa (BCBS). The memorandums cover a variety of pharmacological programs including home infusion therapy and provider payment programs. There are also BCBS newsletters and programming guides for employees from the early 1970s. Correspondence, performance evaluations, and job descriptions in this series depict tension between Furgerson and her employer: documents describe repeated efforts by Furgerson to obtain an office that suited her position, and disagreements over job duties and evaluations; a letter from Des Moines civil rights attorney Alfredo Parrish to BCBS is included. Lee B. Furgerson also worked for BCBS in the 1970s, and documents relating to his tenure as chair of the Human Relations Council are included. Also included are documents about and brochures advertising a diabetic cookie company started by the Furgersons, called Furgerson’s Fine Foods.