The collection is arranged in eight series:
Series 1, Correspondence, ca.1960-2000: Sub-Series 1, Correspondence: Authors and Researchers; Sub-Series 2, Correspondence: Sousa Band Members; Sub-Series 3, Correspondence: Recording Companies and Record Collectors; Sub-Series 4, Correspondence: Libraries, Museums and Historical Societies; Sub-Series 5, Correspondence: Universities and Colleges; Sub-Series 6, Correspondence: Military and Government; Sub-Series 7, Correspondence: Publishers (Literary and Music); Sub-Series 8, Correspondence: Sheet Music Publishers and Collectors; Sub-Series 9, Correspondence: Loras Schissel; Sub-Series 10, Correspondence: Others.
Series 2, Sousa Research Materials, ca. 1892-1995: Sub-Series 1, Sousa Subject Files; Sub-Series 2, Sousa Band Personnel Files; Sub-Series 3, Oral Histories and Interviews; Sub-Series 4, Articles and Clippings; Sub-Series 5, Operetta Scores and Librettos; Sub-Series 6, Sousa Band Programs; Sub-Series 7, Willow Grove Programs; Sub-Series 8, Sousa Collection Catalogs and Finding Aids; Sub-Series 9, Dissertations and Theses on Sousa and Band; Sub-Series 10, Original Sousa Novels and Other Books; Sub-Series 11, Original Sousa Newspaper Articles; Sub-Series 12, Original Photographs and Tour Maps; Sub-Series 13, Oversized Materials - Japan Sousa Society; Sub-Series 14, Oversized Material; Sub-Series 15, Sousa Correspondence; Sub-Series 16, Photobook Research Materials; Sub-series 17, Sousa Research Photographs.
Series 3, American Band History Materials, ca.1900-2000: Sub-Series 1, Articles and Clippings; Sub-Series 2, Leonard B. Smith and the Detroit Concert Band; Sub-Series 3, Henry Fillmore Materials; Sub-Series 4, Hallelujah Trombone; Sub-Series 5, Robert Hoe V Materials; Sub-Series 6, Fillmore Correspondence.
Series 4, Paul Bierley Professional Papers, ca. 1953-2003: Sub-Series 1, Paul E. Bierley - Personal and Professional Papers; Sub-Series 2, Paul E. Bierley Honoraria; Sub-Series 3, Paul E. Bierley Publications; Sub-Series 4, Paul E. Bierley Organizational Memberships; Sub-Series 5, Paul E. Bierley Speaking Engagements; Sub-Series 6, Paul E. Bierley Personal Photographs.
Series 5, Audio Recordings, ca. 1925-2000: Sub-Series 1, Reel-to-Reel and Cassette Audio Tapes, LPs; Sub-Series 2, Reel-to-Reel Tape Recordings, North American Aviation Band.
Series 6, Photographs, ca. 1864-1964: Sub-Series 1, Digital Photographs, 1864-1964; Sub-Series 2, Barry Furrer Photographs, ca. 1900-1930; Sub-Series 3, Band Members; Sub-Series 4, Candids and Train Wrecks; Sub-Series 5, Performances, Operettas, Undated; Sub-Series 6, Sousa Band Photographs and Sousa with Others; Sub-Series 7, Non-Sousa Band Photographs and Portraits; Sub-Series 8, The American Phenomenon (University of Illinois Press and Integrity Press) Photographs; Sub-Series 9, The Incredible Band of John Philip Sousa (University of Illinois Press) Photographs.
Series 7, Press Books, 1882-1953. The material is organized either alphabetically by author (or recipient in the case of the correspondence), or chronologically when applicable.
And Series 8, Published Books, 1853-2007. Material is Arranged alphabetically by author's last name.