The series is arranged in seven series:

Series 1: Pettit-Stone Diaries 1899-1902 - This series consists of photo-copies / typescripts of the original diaries kept by Katherine Pettit and May Stone during summer visits to the Hindman area before the settlement school was founded.

Series 2: Business Correspondence -  This series consists mostly of correspondence with Dr. J.H. Stucky and Berea College Presidents Frost, and W.J. Hutchins, and F.S. Hutchins.

Series 3: Annual Letters and Progress Reports 1904-1923 -  This series consists of annual letters and progress reports to financial supporters and other friends of the school.

Series 4: Printed Material 1902 to 1977 - This series consists of pamphlets, articles, newspaper clippings, and photographs relating to the schools founding and operation.

Series 5: Biographical Material Series - This series consists of biographical material and writings relating to Ann Cobb, Josiah Combs, Lucy Furman, and Elizabeth Watts. Cobb and Furman were long time instructors at Hindman, Watts was an early director, and Combs was a graduate who became a noted folklorist.

Series 6: Ballads - Mostly typescript / written ballad texts collected by Settlement School staff, 1925 to 1938.  Arranged alphabetically according to title. Informants are not identified.

Series 7: Photographs - This series consists of photographs that document school activities, Knott County environs, people, events, occupations, and transportation. The accompanying 4 x 5 size negatives are copies of original photographs held by the school.

The Hindman Settlement School was established at Hindman, Knott County, Kentucky in 1902 with funding from the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. In 1915 it became an independent, non-denominational corporation whose purpose was to "maintain a school for industrial, intellectual and moral training in the mountainous, destitute or needy portions of Kentucky."

In addition to basic academic subjects courses were taught in manual arts, home economics, agriculture, folk art, and music. Facilities grew to include a grade and high school, library, manual arts training shop, model farm, sawmill, hospital, dormitories, and recreation building. As the county school system assumed more responsibility for the area's education, the settlement school began focusing on adult education and developed in-service training programs for public school teachers in the areas of creative writing, art, and music.

The school continues to promote regional culture through various community activities, seminars, lectures, and workshops such as the yearly Appalachian Writers Workshop and the Appalachian Family Folk Week.