The Peter and Donna Thomas Hand Papermaking Collection is made up of a variety of books, ephemera and paper samples, mostly from the 20th and early 21st centuries. These items document the history, techniques, types of materials, and artists that have help shape the world of papermaking. This collection is rich with rare or unique books on the subject of papermaking, impossible to find ephemera, paper swap collections, and other papermaking/paper related items discovered in the course of the Thomases scholarly work researching various aspects of the craft and its history.

The Torch Press Bookshop was started by Luther Brewer in 1909, and sold books at a storefront in Cedar Rapids as well as to mail-order patrons until 1917.