This collection documents Frank Herbert's literary career and professional life from 1950-1986 through extensive manuscript materials, research files, and personal papers. The materials include original manuscripts, working papers, and correspondence related to his short stories, novels (including the Dune series), and articles; first editions and critical studies; and comprehensive research files supporting his fiction and journalism work.

The collection is organized into four series: Manuscripts (containing subseries for Short Stories, Novels, and Articles), Dune - Film and Television adaptations, Frank Herbert - Personal, and Research Files. The Manuscripts series forms the core of the collection, with extensive documentation of Herbert's creative process from early drafts through publication. The Research Files series is particularly extensive, comprising 13 cartons of materials organized alphabetically and spanning topics from architecture to Vietnam. The collection is particularly rich in materials related to the Dune series, containing multiple manuscript drafts, galley proofs, correspondence, and adaptations for film and television.

Notable components include Herbert's Vietnam War reporting files and extensive research materials on ecology, technology, and world cultures that informed his writing. The collection also contains personal effects, business records, teaching materials from the University of Washington, and ephemera such as promotional materials and fan correspondence. Of special significance are the research files and manuscripts documenting the development of Dune, which was inspired by Herbert's journalism about shifting sand dunes, as well as materials related to his environmental and land reform journalism in the 1960s-70s.