The Ira Silverberg papers contain correspondence, manuscripts, subject files, business/administrative files, personal files, cassette tapes, videos, books, periodicals, posters, and three-dimensional objects. The following is a brief series description that provides a general guide to the contents of each series.

Series I: Correspondence - Includes correspondence to and from Ira Silverberg, with correspondents such as Kathy Acker, Lawrence Chua, Dennis Cooper, Tim Dlugos, Gary Indiana, James Purdy, Jon Savage, Art Spiegelman, Lynne Tillman, John Waters, and David Wojnarowicz, as well as correspondence regarding certain writers, namely Kathy Acker and Jacqueline Susann. This series is arranged alphabetically by correspondent.

Series II: Manuscripts - Includes manuscripts received by Ira Silverberg, such as those by Dennis Cooper, Lawrence Chua, Karen Finley, Allen Ginsberg, Lynne Tillman, David Trinidad, John Waters, and David Wojnarowicz. This series is arranged alphabetically by author.

Series III: Affiliations - Includes correspondence and related materials involving Ira Silverberg's affiliations, such as with the Academy of American Poets, CLMP, the New School, and PEN. This series is arranged alphabetically by institution.

Series IV: Business/Administration Files - Includes files relating to Ira Silverberg's various positions as editor and literary agent, such as activity reports, contracts, general business correspondence, events, insurance, tax files, mailing lists, and notebooks. This series also includes correspondence and related files regarding Silverberg's business associates and contacts, such as Donadio & Ashworth, Grove/Atlantic, Peake Associates, Re/Search Publishing, and Serpent's Tail/High Risk. The files in this series are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Subseries A: General Business/Administration FilesSubseries B: Client Projects - Includes files related to projects by Silverberg's clients, especially projects by Kathey Acker, Dennis Cooper, Richard Grossman and Gary Indiana. Files are arranged by client name when known, or by original folder title when client is unspecificed.Subseries C: Financial Files - The majority of this subseries consists of receipts, bills, and other financial documentation. Arranged aplphabetically by original folder title, and then chronologically.Subseries D: Tear Sheets, Reviews and Clippings - Various press clippings relating to Silverberg's projects and clients. Arranged alphabetically by client name or subject when known, or chronologically as general "tear sheets" files.

Series V: Personal Files - Includes articles by and about Ira Silverberg, Silverberg bios, Personal correspondence, personal finances, and photographs. The 2005 accretion includes a large number of photographs and negatives. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject.

Series VI: Computer Files - Includes information downloaded from Silverberg's hard drive and computer disks, as well as the actual disks themselves. Files include, Kathy Acker, client lists, bios, William S. Burroughs, and email correspondence. This series is arranged alphabetically by the file names given by Silverberg. The actual disks are listed at the end.

Series VII: Other Media - Includes cassette tapes, compact disks, DVDs, and movie film arranged alphabetically by title.

Series VIII: Books/Periodicals - Includes books and periodicals collected by Silverberg and arranged alphabetically by title. Books and periodicals not found in the New York University catalog (Bobcat) were catalogued and are now shelved in the Downtown Collection in the Fales Library and Special Collections.

Series IX: Burroughs - Includes materials relating to William S. Burroughs, such as a variety of Burroughs's projects, Burroughs-related manuscripts, correspondence between Burroughs, James Grauerholz, and Ira Silverberg, Burroughs-related events, and Burroughs photographs. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject, based on original file titles.

Series X: Ephemera - Includes one box containing Jacqueline Susann publicity from Grove/Atlantic, and one box of three-dimensional objects.

Series XI: J.T. LeRoy - The majority is clippings and correspondence. The clippings are largely reviews of LeRoy's books, or articles about the LeRoy "hoax." The correspondence consists of email printouts, faxes, and letters, mostly about LeRoy, although some of the correspondence is from "J.T. LeRoy" to Silverberg. Folders are arranged alphabetically by title, and materials within are arranged chronologically.

Map Case 1: Oversize - Currently unprocessed. Includes movie posters and original artwork.