This collection is made up of scripts, correspondence, photographs, scrapbooks, press clippings, musical compositions, autobiographical writings, creative works, playbills, posters, and memorabilia assembled by James Dobson over the course of his career in the performing arts.

The material is arranged into three topical series:

Series I, Personal Papers (1945-1987 December 9, undated), is made up of papers pertaining to Dobson’s private life and creative works. The correspondence (circa 1945–1987) includes twenty letters sent from Dobson to his parents chronicling the unique experiences that accompany an acting career with the exception of two letters sent from Edward Nassour and Tony Crechales to Dobson. The creative works contained within this series include screenplays, short stories, scene drafts, colorful dialog exercises, and brainstorming.

Series II, Entertainment Industry Materials (1938-1985, undated), comprises scripts, photographs, documents, press clippings, memorabilia, and legal documents pertaining to Dobson's acting career over the course of approximately fifty years. Items include seven scripts for multiple episodes of The Love Boat as well as a script for Hollywood Marvel. Photographs from Dobson’s film and theatre career are primarily stills and behind-the-scenes snapshots of the production process, including cast and crew portraits. They cover Dobson’s performing arts career on numerous film sets and theatrical productions from 1938–1982, including such films as The Flying Leathernecks with John Wayne. Additional documents include Dobson’s career credits, autobiographical notes, and a newspaper column entitled “Hollywood Way” which Dobson wrote for the Greeneville Sun and Oak Ridger. A September 17, 1979, issue of the Los Angeles Times can be found among the press clippings which reported on a wildfire that claimed Dobson’s California residence. An assortment of autographed photos, a caricature, and greeting cards comprise the memorabilia portion of the series. The legal documents primarily consist of copyright transactions and acquisitions of creative works carried out between Dobson and the sellers.

Series III: Oversized Materials (1935 February 20-1982 February 5, undated), is made up of film posters, large publications pertaining to the film industry, sheet music, and three scrapbooks. The scrapbooks contain a myriad of materials including photographs and press clippings collected over the course of Dobson’s career and travels, including a navy blue scrapbook which won Dobson the Knoxville Journal contest and a trip to California in 1937. A large theatre poster for Track of Thunder as well as a copy of the film publications of Studio News (April 6, 1935) and Film Daily (February 20, 1935) can also be found.