The S. Edward Roos Papers date from 1928-1999 and 2009, with the bulk of materials dating between 1928-1991; incidental materials related to Roos and his career dated after his death were kept by his son. The rest of the collection consists of items created and collected by Roos over the course of his sailing career, including notebooks from his trips to Antarctica during Byrd Antarctic Expeditions I and II, a photograph album from Byrd Antarctic Expedition I, ship service records spanning his entire career, and correspondence and newsletters from fellow members of the Byrd Antarctic Expeditions. Also included are newspaper clippings about the ships he was on that survived torpedo attacks, research about other ships he had sailed on in his career, a Swedish Admiral Byrd obituary clipping, and photocopies of the Roos Papers at the United States National Archives. Finally, the collection contains Roos's medals and uniform decorations from the United States Merchant Marine, his World War II Victory Medal, Byrd Antarctic Expedition II Guernsey Cattle Club medal, cap badge and shoulder boards, and two Freemason rings. These items arrived in a military medal rolled storage pouch, with Roos's service award bars pinned to it; these bars remain attached to the pouch.

The Ian M. Whillans Papers, dated 1955-2001, contains datasheets, maps, reports, articles, aerial photographs, negatives, notes, equipment lists, calculations and field books regarding Whillans' glaciological research in Antarctica and Arctic regions.

The John Weihaupt Papers, which date from 1959-2012, with most of the collection taking place between 1959 and 1963, contains field notes and notebooks, aerial photographs and compact discs. These materials come from his 1959-1960 Victoria Land Traverse expedition in Antarctica and his 1961 South Pole Traverse expedition. The collection also includes an oral history interview with Brian Shoemaker audiocassette, transcripts and notes.

The John Campbell Craddock Papers, dated circa 1959-1985, contains research proposals, data, correspondence, field notes and reports, photographs, negatives, lists, summaries, forms, and information about SCAR (Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research) related to Craddock's work as a polar geologist. The collection contains numerous files regarding Craddock's interactions with the National Science Foundation, especially in regard to grants and funding and with the SCAR WGG (Working Group on Geology).