Notebooks (referred to by Herbert as "literary logs" or "logbooks"), manuscript drafts, proofs and other papers relating to Xavier Herbert's published and unpublished works, including Poor fellow my country, Capricornia, Disturbing element, Soldiers' women, "Me and my shadow", and "The little widow", together with short stories, poems, articles, newspaper cuttings, correspondence, photographs, financial and personal records, audio recordings, and artwork by or featuring Xavier Herbert. Also includes papers relating to Xavier Herbert's pharmaceutical career, military service and aviation pursuits, as well as his interest in politics and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The collection contains correspondence, school and university records, photographs; papers, commissions and badges relating from military service in the First World War for Jack Fryer and his brothers who served in World War One. There are papers relating to the Fryer Family and the establishment of the Fryer Memorial Library of Australian Literature.

Certificates and testimonials, outgoing and incoming correspondence, photographs, financial papers, booksellers' catalogues and newsletters, publishers' announcements, political and pressure group leaflets, maps of Moreton Bay Islands, notices and plans of Moreton Bay land for sale, newspaper cuttings, subject files on people and organisations, periodicals, notes and notebooks.
Most papers cover the period 1950s-1970s.

Album, mass produced with 'Kodak' on the cover. Contains eighteen real photo postcards, "Kodak Austral" series (13 x 8cm) mounted in between board. Photographic reproduction with caption inscribed at foot of photographs. Inscribed on inside cover: To Mother wishing you a Merry Xmas and very Happy New Year with best of wishes and love, from your loving son, Jack, 1920. Inscribed on back inside cover: Jack's official number 12.400.