The Hopkins family papers is composed of materials relating to members of the Hopkins family, especially Manley Hopkins, his wife Catherine ("Kate"), and their children. A number of items concern Manley Hopkins's involvement with religious and political affairs in Hawaii. There are also clippings, photographs and correspondence of Gerard Manley Hopkins, SJ.

Materials by and about other family members include correspondence, manuscripts, poems, legal documents, drawings, music and photographs. The papers also include items related to other families in connection with the Hopkins family.