The bulk of the collection consists of postcards collected by Catherine Swanlund depicting the history of Grand Rapids (Mich.) from c.1890 to 1985. Of special interest are the business cards, some of which are from firms owned by family members. Included in the collection is the Colby family genealogy, and photographs of the Colby family. Also noteworthy in the correspondence portion of the collection is the stationary from Grand Rapids hotels, 1916.

Of interest is patent information for “Antifriction Bearing for Wheels” filed by Harlan Page Colby, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, dated Apr. 10, 1900. In 2002, a draft of Ms. Swanlund’s reminiscences and family history was added to the collection, including the Savage family who moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan from Chicago, Ill, in 1883. A few periodical articles in the collection also document her career as an interior designer, early under the name Kay Hanger.