The collection, 1949 to 2006, was compiled by Clifford Olsen, a containment physicist at the Nevada Test Site (NTS). It consists of research notes and working papers written by Olsen and other scientists, publications, epoxy aggregate samples, work-related correspondence, nuclear-test-event data, and interviews conducted by Olsen with work colleagues involved with the NTS.

The Desert Fishes Council Records (1969-1988) consist of resolutions, meeting minutes, symposium programs, agendas, and press releases of the Desert Fishes Council (DFC). The organization is devoted to the study and preservation of Southwestern desert fishes, notably the desert pupfish. The DFC records reflect efforts to bring the plight of desert fishes to the attention of academics and the public as well as highlight the worth of desert lands within the American environmental movement.