The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence, much of it related to the Columbia River Gorge, and of documents relating to Columbia Gorge legislation. Collection also includes historical biographies by Eldon G. Chuinard on John McLoughlin and Marcus Whitman.

Reminiscences of landscape architect and planner Jurgen A. Hess (born 1941) about implementation of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area Act, as well as materials relating to opposition to the act, including a document by Lex Loeb. Hess worked for the U.S. Forest Service for more than 30 years, and was the service's planning director for the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.