The collection spans 1886 to 1994 and consists of photographs depicting Shorter family members and friends dating from 1907 to 1920, legal and financial documents including deeds, titles, and Henry F. Shorter, Sr.'s will, correspondence, minutes of the New Hope Missionary Baptist Sunday School convention in 1904, and a set of picture postcards of Muscle Shoals and Florence, Alabama.

The Post Card Collection consists of post cards with images of scenes from the United States, the continent of Africa and portraits of individuals. Many of these post cards commemorate a historical event such as the Olympic Games in Atlanta and the Million Women March. This collection highlights Atlanta life in the mid 20th century by showcasing the Atlanta University Center, black churches, and the Carnegie Library.