The personal series (1910s-1990s) consists primarily of material documenting Donn Arden’s personal life but also includes information about people who worked closely with Arden, and general information on dance, production shows, and showgirls from 1917 to 1993.
The nightclubs series is comprised of materials dating from the 1950s to the 1980s that document Donn Arden's work in nightclubs throughout the United States. Cities included are New York, New York; Los Angeles, California; Miami Beach, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Reno, Nevada; and Fort Lee, New Jersey. Nightclubs include the Latin Quarter, Moulin Rouge, Riviera, and the Painted Desert Room at the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino. Also includes documentation on the Arden-Fletcher Dancers, Arden's line of dancers with dancer and choreographer Ron Fletcher.
The shows series consists of materials dating from the 1940s to the 1990s that document Donn Arden's work on large-scale production shows and includes costume design sketches, cast lists, fan letters, magazine articles, production notes, programs, press clippings, reviews, and sheet music.
The audiovisual series consists of audiocassettes, videocassettes, and reel-to-reel tapes of select Donn Arden shows such as Hello Hollywood Hello, Jubilee!, and Lido from 1968 to 1993. There are also vinyl records used in rehearsals for the Lido and Hello America shows.