These materials pertaining to John McCormack’s life and career were compiled by Frederick M. Manning. Notable manuscripts in the collection include McCormack’s memoirs, a book of song lyrics used as a prompt and prop by McCormack in performance, a handwritten index of McCormack’s sheet music, and annotated typescripts of McCormack’s introductory remarks to radio performances. Other notable items include correspondence to and from McCormack with original letters from Edward Elgar, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Lilli Lehmann. The collection also contains many photographs of McCormack, original programs from McCormack’s concert performances, sheet music, and analog sound discs of McCormack’s song recordings.

This collection also documents commemorations of McCormack after his death, including those in 1984, the centenary of McCormack’s birth. In addition, it contains research in the form of lists, notes, and transcriptions compiled by Manning and/or his colleagues.