Subject content of this generic collection is broad and constantly changing with new accessions. Included is a variety of subject matter from the AFL-CIO News to a small, local publication featuring poems and short stories about cats.

Some issues are kept for a particular article about Grand Rapids, though the title may be generally out of scope. One example of this is “Fortune” magazine, an issue of which has been kept for an article on Great Lakes shipping, but is not a Grand Rapids or Michigan title routinely collected in the archives.

Included along with some well-known publications are ephemera or lesser known publications, items from small nonprofits, organizations serving the handicapped and some ethnic publications. In many cases, only one or a few issues of a local publication is found, though other issues of Grand Rapids publications are desired, as these become available.

See other archival collections that may relate to these organizations or groups for other serials publications. For example, Vietnamese Collection #274 contains many Vietnamese language periodicals related to the migration of that cultural group to the U.S. and Grand Rapids as a result of the Vietnam War. Serials holdings related to the furniture industry, or furniture design, are held in Coll. 233, the GRPL Furniture Industry Collection, and in other named collections with which these items may have been received.

A few items are located in the collection because of their delicate condition. Additional holdings for some of these titles may be located elsewhere in the GRHSC collections.