The first part of the collection consists of unit files: Cub Packs, Scout Troops, Explorer Posts, Sea Scout Ships, Air Squadrons, and other senior scout units. They are organized by unit number, and are listed in numerical order. Items in these files consist of unit charter applications, applications to join the unit, unit rosters, and adult applications. The Boy Scout and Explorer files also contain Eagle Scout applications, Eagle Palms applications, and various other applications such as scout lifeguard applications and emergency service qualification applications.

It should be noted that the Cub Scout Packs and Explorer Posts are referred to by two numbers: A local number and a national number. For example, the Cub Scout Pack which was known locally as Pack 23 was given the number 3023 by the national office. The national unit numbers are given first, followed by the local number in parentheses. This does not apply to the Boy Scout Troops; for whatever reason, they do not appear to have been assigned national unit numbers.

Following the unit rosters are administrative material for the Explorers, followed by rosters of adults involved in scouting at the unit, district, and council levels. Following this are council membership reports from 1947 to 1977. Following this are council financial records, records of various activities that scouts participated in, and materials used in writing a history of the Sam Houston Area Council in the early 1960's. Also included is material pertaining to professional scout staff, lists of financial donors, newspaper clippings and scrapbooks, and several reels of movie film of a trip to the 1929 World Jamboree in England.