The Historic Photographs and Drawings Collection is a compilation of multiple formats of materials depicting all aspects of NYU from campus architecture to student life and activities. The bulk of the collection is from the early to mid-20th century, with some materials dating back to the 19th century. The two series that make up this collection were originally individual collections that have been brought together by virtue of their physical formats and the focus of their content.

The oversized materials in the collection contain portraits of faculty members, maps of the University Heights campus as well as the Washington Square campus, group photographs of athletic teams, and photographs of events such as commencement and class reunions. Also included in the oversized materials are several reproductions of documents such as George Washington's Inaugural Address, the Mayflower Contract, the United States Constitution, and the First Patent of America.

The glass plate negatives in the collection focus primarily on the University Heights campus, its buildings, and student life and activities including sporting events and in class lectures. The glass plate negatives are extremely fragile, and despite their high quality and good condition, several of them are slightly cracked or damaged.