The Jean Cocteau Collection consists of Correspondence, Writings, and Drawings. The span dates are 1910-1963, with many undated items.

The Correspondence is arranged by names of the recipients. Many letters carry no dates. Notable items include letters to Rene Bertrand on the subject of Picasso, letters to Marcel Raval spanning at least two decades, and a letter, apparently to Robert Weine, about the early film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Other notable recipients include Sergei Diaghilev and Georgette Leblanc. Many of the letters contain drawings by Cocteau.

Among the Writings are Drama, Essays, Poetry, and Other. Drama includes a six-page holograph scenario of the film La Belle et la Bete; a twenty-four page typescript of Oedipe-Roi, annotated and with illustrations including set and costume designs; a ninety-two page holograph of Paul et Virginie: opera comique en 3 actes, by Cocteau, Erik Satie, and Raymond Radiguet, including holograph title and half-title; an eight page holograph of the return of Ulysses to Ithaca and Penelope's welcome, a one-act play in verse.

The twenty-eight Essays are arranged alphabetically by title or by first line. In the absence of title, the first words are entered in the shelf list. The essays cover a wide range of subjects, from biographical sketches of contemporaries (Christian Berard, Coco Chanel, Diaghilev, Max Jacob, and Erik Satie) to critical pieces ("Proces de l'inspiration," "Quelques notes autour de 16 millimetres," "Romantisme," etc.) and historical backgrounds to his work and life ("La legend du Boeuf sur le toit," "La machine infernal," "Notes sur la crucifixion," "Sources des films").

Poetry is arranged alphabetically by title or by first line in the absence of title. Other contains an untitled piece beginning "Les Etats Unis..."

Drawings include a single pencil drawing.