This collection consists primarily of correpondence and writings by Murphy. The correspondence is both family and professional, the former being largely of a social nature and including letters of her grandfather (Amos Chafee Barstow), mother (Grace P. Barstow), and sister (Mary Mason Barstow). Much of the correspondence with her sister reveals Murphy's interest in, and dedication to, conservation. There are articles and speeches pertaining to her interest in conservation or relating to the various trips she took with her husband, Robert Cushman Murphy.

Robert Cushman Murphy (1887-1973), one of the twentieth century's great ornithologists, was curator of mammals and birds at the Brooklyn Museum (1911-1917) and was curator of birds and later chairman of birds at the American Museum of Natural History (1917-1973). The world's foremost authority on sea birds, in 1936, he penned Oceanic Birds of South America, a two volume set. An ardent traveler and explorer, he kept copious notes of his travels, which he typed up, illustrated and had bound. The APS library owns forty-two bound journals. Murphy was made an APS member in 1946. A pioneer in the study of the ecology, a louse, fish, plant, lizard, an Antarctic inlet, spider, and two mountains have acquired his name. This collection contains diaries, journals, articles, addresses and observations of Murph;, generously illustrated with newspaper clippings, photographs, letters, sketches, maps, and charts.