The Center for Pacific Northwest Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection is comprised of a variety of materials pertaining to social, economic, political and historical issues in the Pacific Northwest, particularly northwestern Washington State and Whatcom County. The collection spans the time period of about 1800 to the present.

Of particular interest within the collection are numerous property records for Whatcom County from its territorial days, and financial records and other records of Whatcom County businesses from the same time period. Meeting minutes, directories, and registers of local organizations and clubs can also be found throughout the collection.

The collection also includes a number of original manuscripts and musical compositions, published and unpublished, from Whatcom-area authors about a variety of subjects, but primarily historical in nature. Other writings in the collection include class papers, masters theses and audio-visual materials from Bellingham Normal School, Western Washington University and the University of Washington students.

The collection includes photographs and scrapbooks both personal and public in nature, dating from the 1800s and documenting primarily Whatcom County people and places. There are also materials acquired directly from or in reference to well-known, respected and/or colorful individuals from the area. Ephemera, publications, and advertisements highlighting notable dates and landmarks around Whatcom County, Washington State, and the Southwestern United States are interspersed within the collection.

The collection contains various records and publications of Northwest Native American clubs and organizations. There are also a few sources documenting Japanese-American workers in Whatcom County and the Seattle-area. There are photo albums from families likely of German descent, and a book of devotional poetry in Icelandic.