This collection reflects the career of Frederick A. Peterson, a Mesoamerican archaeologist who focused his research on Mexico. Correspondence; anthropological and archaeological research; manuscripts from his book, Ancient Mexico; and eighteenth and nineteenth-century Spanish documents make up the bulk of the collection. The collection is divided into five series: I. Correspondence; II. Clippings and legal papers; III. Research and publications, which includes information on the Lacandon Indians; IV. Spanish language documents; and V. Archaeology, anthropology, and miscellaneous personal papers. The correspondence series contains business and personal letters from colleagues including Richard S. MacNeish. The Research and publications series includes hand-drawn illustrations copied from Mayan codices.

Much of the material in the collection is in Spanish. Photographs are housed in Photoarchives.