The bulk of the collection consists of documents associated with Gordon G. Macnab's work as a journalist for the Associated Press in Portland, Oregon. Many of these documents relate to coverage of John F. Kennedy's campaign visits to Oregon from 1959-1960, and include: press releases of the prepared text for remarks by Kennedy; handwritten notes from Kennedy's campaign appearances; typescript transcripts that Macnab later made of some of his notes; and articles by Macnab, with handwritten marks and edits. These materials are accompanied by typewritten explanatory comments, made circa 1974, that provide additional context. Also included are Associated Press planning materials for the 1960 primary and general elections, as well as clippings of articles written after Kennedy's assassination, revisiting his appearances in Oregon. In addition to political coverage, the collection includes two rolled teletype printouts of wire service news reports from December 8, 1941, which consist of reports about Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, along with other Northwest and national news items.

Other materials in the collection are a typescript copy of 1974 reminiscences by Margaret Raz Graf about the Hillsdale area of Portland, Oregon, titled "Hillsdale: An area of Hills and Dales -- as I remember it since 1890"; a small quantity of Gordon G. Macnab's rationing records and gas receipts during World War II; and family history. The family history is a spiral-bound compilation, assembled circa 1983, that primarily consists of typescript copies of diary entries and letters by Clark W. Thompson (1825-1885), who was the grandfather of Gordon G. Macnab's wife, Molly Macnab. The diary entries, 1841-1842, chronicle Thompson's youth and school days; the letters, 1850-1853, document his overland journey from Illinois to California. The compilation also includes photocopied maps and photographs, many of which were taken circa 1983 and depict sites along the route of Thompson's journey to California.