Scope and Contents Carlson was a prolific correspondent throughout her adult life. The bulk of the letters were written to her Parents, and concern her everyday life, education, military and work career, as well as her travels abroad. Among the main topics are: Sullins College, the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri, radio stations KHMO. and KDTH, Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC), basic army training, Women's Army Corps (WAC) officer school, Army hospitals, Army public relations, postwar Tokyo, Japan, the making of the Hollywood film, Francis Joins the WAC, the Journalism graduate program at Stanford University, and West Germany during the Cold War. The letters also contain information about the WAC, general commentary on political and hometown news, and humor. Also included in the series is a spoken letter to her Parents recorded on a phonograph in the 1940s (item 1).

This series contains press releases, memoranda, clippings, and other printed ephemera related to Carlson's military career. Included in the series is a commemorative photo book of Helen Keller's trip to Japan in 1948, along with a signature of Hellen Keller, as well as a banner from the film Francis Joins the WAC, on which Carlson served as technical director.

The bulk of the series consists of photographs of Carlson while stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland, Japan, and Hong Kong. Most of the photographs are from Carlson's time in the Army but also includes photographs of friends and family. In addition to photographs, the series also includes scrapbooks of Carlson while in high school as well as her time spent as technical director on the set of the film Francis Joins the WAC.

This addition includes correspondence, photographs, printed materials and ephemera documenting Lane Carlson's and Helen Keller's tour of Japan in 1948.