The George F. Dow Papers include manuscript materials, correspondence, genealogical research, and photographs created by George Dow throughout his career as a writer, editor, and historian. This collection has been arranged into two series.

Series I. Manuscripts include drafts of books, articles, speeches and radio addresses written or edited by George F. Dow. The material in this series is arranged alphabetically by the title of the written work. Subseries A. through Subseries G. includes extensive manuscript material related to one particular literary project. Additionally these subseries include correspondence, photographs, and research material are included. Subseries H. Articles, Projects and Speeches include drafts and correspondence related to literary works written or edited by Dow. Much of the material in this subseries demonstrates Dow's continuous interest in early American colonial life and ideas; subjects touched upon earlier in his career appear in his later work as well. For example, the manuscript material entitled "Domestic Life in Early New England," found in Subseries B. as an unpublished manuscript, was later published by SPNEA as Everyday Life in Massachusetts Bay Colony, years after Dow's original research and drafts were penned.

Series II. Personal Papers include personal correspondence, genealogies, research, and photographs written or collected by Dow throughout his career. Subseries A. Correspondence includes correspondence to and from Dow and touches upon all areas of interest related to Dow. An active member in the antiquarian field, Dow corresponded with some of the leading art museum directors of the time including staff from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester, Massachusetts. Also included are materials related to Dow's public service, such as a civil service application from 1918, and material from the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Massachusetts Republican Committee. Subseries B. Genealogies includes collected genealogical material related to the Dwinnell and Mather families, along with various other families from the Essex County area. Subseries C. Research includes town records, newspaper clippings, notes, and various articles collected by Dow, most of which relate to the town of Topsfield where Dow lived for many years. Subseries D. Photographs include architectural drawings and details of house plans, various book illustrations, and photographs collected by Dow for use in his various personal and professional projects. The material in this series is arranged chronologically within subject folders.