The collection consists of the professional, personal, and biographical papers of Alfred T. Goodwin, a judge from Oregon. The majority of the professional papers relate to Goodwin's career as a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. These papers include more than 5,000 files for individual cases, as well as extensive records for the case Newdow v. United States Congress, et al. Other professional papers consist of records relating to Goodwin's work as a Lane County Circuit Court judge, a justice on the Oregon Supreme Court, and a judge for the U.S. District Court of Oregon; correspondence; and materials relating to his other professional work, such as speeches and his activities with bar associations and law schools.

Personal and biographical papers in the collection include diaries, reminiscences, transcripts of oral history interviews with Goodwin by Carole Hike and Eileen E. Chambers, papers relating to Goodwin's military service in World War II, photographs, materials relating to Goodwin's family, and correspondence.