This collection is organized into three series. Series I contains Peterson's LDS missionary papers, publications, research papers, professional affiliations, and oral history materials. Series II contains a comprehensive collection of Peterson's personal and professional correspondence. Series III contains a collection of editorial correspondence (between 1983-1992) from The Dialogue; a Journal of Mormon Thought. Most of the publications contained in Series I consist of essays, some unpublished, and various drafts of Peterson's books. The oral history material contains a rich array of local history in the form of typescripts, cassette recordings, and VHS recordings. A number of Peterson's speeches are also contained in this series.

Series II is organized into two sub-series of personal and professional correspondence. Peterson's personal correspondence contains letters written on his LDS mission and letters to and from his family and friends (1950-2004). Peterson's professional correspondence contains letters written as a professor of history and his involvement with various committees (1966-2004). These materials have been organized into outgoing and incoming correspondence (unless specified). Outgoing correspondence is organized chronologically. Incoming correspondence is organized alphabetically by the last name of the sender.

Series III contains various papers connected to The Dialogue; a Journal of Mormon Thought and F. Ross and Mary Kay Peterson's editorial correspondence for The Dialogue. In addition, this series also contains the correspondence of other Dialogue editors and employees, such as Lavina Fielding Anderson and L. Jackson and Linda King Newell. Correspondence is organized by sender and in the same manner as Series II.