The collection comprises pamphlets, ephemera and letters on a wide range of socialist matters. From Robert Blatchford and the Clarion movement to the Labour Church and Socialist Sunday Schools. Other topics include Victor Grayson, Socialist MP for the Colne Valley; the Rochdale Pioneers and the Cooperative movement; the Independent Labour Party (I.L.P); the Labour Party; women's suffrage and the Pankhursts.
The collection also includes a number of press cuttings on the First World War and pamphlets and material relating to Conscientious Objectors. There are also press cuttings and material on the Second World War. The Peace movement is represented with letters, ephemera and pamphlets on the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (C.N.D).
Part of the collection (early socialist material) had been arranged and indexed alphabetically by subject, prior to deposit. The original order has been retained where possible and cross-references to original numbering supplied.
Since the first index was produced two more boxes of Crowther material were discovered this has been listed as additional material.