The collection consists of materials kept by William Hurst and provides an in-depth look at his life and work in the Forest Service. Series 1 includes diaries, daybooks, and planners that give a detailed, day-to-day snapshot into Mr. Hurst’s daily life from June 1940 until December 2000, including his brief stint in the Army from 1945-1946. Series 2 includes Regional Forester Files (correspondence, memos, etc.) that provide a glimpse of Mr. Hurst's career during his tenure as chief of Range and Wildlife Management in Region 4 beginning in 1962 until his retirement as regional forester for the Southwestern Region in 1976. Series 3, entitled "Range Allotment Analysis Instructions Region IV," contains materials relating to range management. Series 4 is a biography of former Chief of the Forest Service Edward P. Cliff written by Ronald B. Hartzer, while Series 5 contains William D. Hurst Secretary's Decisions in Region 4 Cases.

Series 6 is entitled "Range Management Letters, Papers, and Addresses of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s" and includes addresses given by Mr. Hurst and other members of the Forest Service. It also includes a collection of Special Circulation Circulars relating to the grazing permit controversy of 1957-1958. Materials concerning various important Forest Service policies reside in Series 7. Series 8 includes articles, reports, addresses as well as several chapters of a handbook relating to Range Analysis Instructions. Series 9 holds several issues of American Forester, relating to a champion Colorado Bristlecone Pine identified by Mr. Hurst and one issue of The Utah Cattleman. Series 10 consists of brochures promoting the Southwestern National Forests, which were supervised by Mr. Hurst from 1966 to 1976. Finally, Series 11 consists of miscellaneous materials including a collection of nitrate negatives (See cold storage Box 63).