Materials related to Julia McCarthy's creative process. Includes drafts of poems at different stages, research materials accumulated by McCarthy during her writing, drafts of McCarthy's books and copy-edit notes and comments received from her editors and Don Domanski, published poems in different media, and promotional materials for her publications.

Materials related to Julia McCarthy's personal life. Includes personal journals and diaries she kept between the years 1985 and 2006, personal correspondence she received or sent to multiple individuals (with the preeminence of correspondence received from Don Domanski), and eulogy for McCarthy's second husband Graham Stewart.

Materials related to Julia McCarthy's administrative affairs. Includes materials related to the submission of her work for publication in different media, interviews and reports about McCarthy, applications for grants and awards, reception of awards, and other general administrative matters.

Materials created or accumulated by Julia McCarthy about or by other authors. Predominantly includes materials received from or about Don Domanski, such as his poems or anthologies and McCarthy's nomination for Domanski for the Lieutenant Governor masterworks Arts Award and award. Also contains materials related to Wayne Boucher's exhibition “Radiance and counterpoint" and a poem by an unidentified author.