The collection consists of the papers of Louis A. Jacobsen and his family. The bulk of the collection's contents are correspondence and records relating to Jacobsen's business activities, particularly the Jacobsen Construction Company and the University Drug Company. These include specifications and plans relating to specific construction projects involving marine and railroad facilities or installations. Documents and plans often concern piles, a term used to describe the foundational supports of structures. Additional materials in the collection include records for properties that Jacobsen owned, as well as photographs, memorabilia, and ephemera relating to Jacobsen and members of his family. Some of the family papers are in Danish.