The collection contains correspondence, drafts, typescripts and notes relating to books and articles written by McCarthy. Also included are reviews, radio scripts, diaries of McCarthy and his wife. Some of the correspondents are: Mrs E. Bean, Sir Paul Hasluck, Gough Whitlam, etc. The three main books are: "South-West Pacific area first year: Kokoda to Wau" (vol. 5 of "Australia in the war of 1939-45); "The fate of O'Loughlin" and "Gallipoli to the Somme: the story of C.E.W. Bean".Additional papers document Dudley Mccarthy's professional life as Patrol Officer in Papua New Guinea, Australian Minister to United Nations in New York and as Ambassador to Mexico and Spain and . They include published books, photographs, notes and press clippings along with some childhood and family photographs.