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.
The photographs series consists primarily of headshots of individuals and groups auditioning for roles in Donn Arden productions from the 1940s to the 1980s. This series also contains a photo album and loose photographs of Arden in Paris with Ron Fletcher, Margaret Kelly (Miss Bluebell), and others in the late 1940s to 1950s.
The artifacts series consists of trophies and plaques dating from the 1954 to 1986 from various organizations honoring Donn Arden for his work in the entertainment business.
The scrapbooks series dating from 1950 to 1982 consists of scrapbooks that contain press clippings, photographs, programs, telegrams, advertisements, and reviews for Donn Arden produced shows in Las Vegas, Nevada, Paris, France, and in numerous nightclubs around the United States.
The Donn Arden subseries contains material dating from the 1910s to the 1990s that document Donn Arden's personal life. Items include correspondence, telegrams, invitations, high school ephemera, biographical press clippings, and magazine articles.