Nelson taught English at the University of Kansas from 1925-1967. This collection consists of correspondence when Nelson retired as Dean of the Graduate School in 1963 and when he retired from the KU faculty in 1967, as well as when he received his Distinguished Service Award in 1972. It also contains awards, citations, and news clippings.

The collection includes the records of the Graduate School at the University of Kansas, re-formed in 1996. Formerly known as the Office of Research, Graduate Studies and Public Service.