The collection includes a large amount of correspondence, including letters both sent and received by David Wishart. The correspondence shows the type and scale of work being produced at the Hayloft Press with correspondents including Hayloft Press customers and the proprieters of other small printing presses. There is also correspondence with the poet Phoebe Hesketh, who had one of her collections of poems printed at the Hayloft Press.
Also of importance is the research material on printing gathered by David Wishart. This material contains information on the technical aspects of printing and provides evidence of David Wishart's fascination with printing non-European languages. Samples of work and designs for printed materials give further insight into the printing process and the activities of the Hayloft Press. Finally, there is a small amount of material relating to the financial side of the business including invoices for orders and some bank statements. However the collection does not include any detailed financial records.
The collection is thus a good source of information for anyone interested in the work of small printing presses in the 1980s and '90s, as well as the history of printing in general.