Series includes correspondence between Peter Buitenhuis and various friends, colleagues, and peers—including Margaret Atwood, Timothy "Tiff" Findley, Northrop Frye, Thomas Wolfe, Adrienne Clarkson, Norman Holmes Pearson, Glynn Beard, Earle Birney, Anne Cameron, Joy Kogawa, Nigel Nicolson, Peter Such, Derek Martinus, Richard Stern, Betty Lambert, and Scott Symons (see files F-242-4-0-0-1 "Correspondence", F-242-4-0-0-2 "Correspondence: II L-Z," vol 1, and F-242-4-0-0-13 Scott Symons--please note that some original documents have been removed from the files and replaced with photocopies). Series also includes records relating to Buitenhuis's personal affairs, including financial records; party arrangements; church activities; and advocacy interests and involvement. Topics documented include the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) program "Ideas," publications and manuscripts by Buitenhuis as well as other authors, Ford Maddox Ford, the Public Lending Right Commission, West Coast Energy, and Park Royal Shopping Centre.

Records primarily consist of correspondence, but also include forms, a notebook, brochures, and reports.

Sub-series consists of records relating to Peter Buitenhuis's writing and publications, including a copy of his dissertation on Henry James (with associated review committee notes); correspondence with his book printer; drafts of his published works; research notes; drafts of an interview he conducted with Timothy Findley; photographs of Jack Hodgins; and an unpublished manuscript titled Empires of the Mind: British Authors' Roles in World War II.

Materials include correspondence, research notes, literary drafts, manuscripts, photographs, a journal, and a notebook.