The Eldon Barrett Papers comprise biographical and personal papers, research, writings and photographic materials documenting the life and career of a nationally known journalist, United Press International (UPI) writer and news bureau chief.
 

The collection contains a small number of biographical and personal records, including documents from Eldon Barrett’s high school and college years, certificates of award, papers relating to his military service and a copy of his obituary.
 

The bulk of the collection comprises the extensive research and writing files generated through the course of Barrett’s career with UPI, and during his “retirement” years as a freelance travel writer and Bellingham Herald columnist. Maintained largely in the original and meticulous order found in Barrett's office, these files chronicle the extent and evolving nature of his research interests. His files include an assortment of notes, correspondence, articles, clippings, publications, photographs and other materials organized topically as the basis for his professional writings. These research and writings files document a wide variety of subjects, including people, places and events in the Pacific Northwest and other world-wide locations. Barrett researched and documented myriad stories of local and regional interest, including high-profile criminal cases, Pacific Northwest maritime history, WWII history in the Aleutian Islands and nuclear weapons testing at Amchitka, Alaska. Also of interest and grouped together are research files for Barrett’s Bellingham Herald “Seniors” columns, and pertaining to his ideas for books, articles, poetry and other writing projects. While Barrett frequently included copies or drafts of his manuscripts among these (subject-related) research files, researchers will also find many related and additional writings organized together under the headings “publications” and “published articles.”
 

Eldon Barrett's papers contain a significant number of slides, photographs and scrapbooks that complement or document his writings and other research materials.  Folders, albums and scrapbooks are clearly identified on the inventory with descriptive titles (most supplied or labeled  by Barrett) regarding the name, location and date of their subjects. They include slides of travels and landscapes in Western Washington and the Pacific Northwest in particular, images of Seattle and Olympia during the 1960s (including images of visiting presidents, Robert F. Kennedy and Black Panther protests in Olympia), and scrapbooks of photos and clippings documenting Barrett's work "On the Job" at UPI's Seattle office. 

The collection also includes a small number of programs and other publications collected from various places Barrett traveled and various sporting and other events attended, including the dedication ceremony for the Seattle Kingdome.