Most folders relate to a particular company history. The folders are mostly in alphabetical order. In addition to containing notes taken by the authors, the folders also contain pamphlets and brochures, annual reports, self-authored company histories, and photographs of buildings, workers, officers, and other scenarios to help illustrate the development and expansion of these companies.

Included in the list of businesses featured in the text are:

A.L. Huber & Son; Adler's; Allen Marking Products, Inc.; Armco Inc.; Ash Grove Cement Company;

Bartlett Agricultural Enterprises, Inc.; Kansas City Blue Cross Blue Shield; Boese-Hilburn Company; Burns & McDonnell; Business Men's Assurance Company;

Church of the Nazarene; Clarkson Construction; Commerce Bank of Kansas City; Cook Paint and Varnish Company;

Darby Corporation; Dodson Insurance Group;

ERC Management Corporation;

Farmland Industries, Inc.; Faultless Starch/Bon Ami Company; Faultless Linen Supply Company; Fike Metal Products Corporations; First National Bank of Kansas City; Frank Paxton Lumber Company;

Garney Company; General Heating and Cooling Company; Geo. P. Reintjes Co., Inc.;

Hallmark Cards, Inc.;

J.E. Dunn Construction Company; Jackson County Historical Society; John Rohrer Construction Company;

Kansas City Southern Industries; Kansas City Life Insurance Company; Kansas City Power & Light; Kroh Brothers Greenlease Motor Car Company;

Major Cadillac Co., Inc.; Marion Laboratories; The Marley Company; Massman Construction Company; Menorah Medical Center; Missouri Public Service Company; Mobay Chemical Corporation; Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company;

Puritan Bennett;

R.B. Rice; Research Medical Center; Richards and Conover Steel Company; Riss International Corporation;

S-G Metals Industries, Inc.; Savoy Grill, Schooley Professional Office Interiors; Sellers and Marquis Roofing Company; Southwestern Bell; Saint Joseph Hospital; St. Luke's Hospital; Sutherland Lumber Company;

Thomas McGee & Sons; Townley Hardware Company; Traders Bank; Trans World Airlines; Tnemec Company; Trinity Lutheran Hospital;

U.S. Engineering Company; United Farm Agency, Inc.; United Telecommunications, Inc.; University of Missouri;

Valentine-Radford Advertising; Vander Kolk Interiors;

Winn Senter Construction Co.;

Yellow Freight Systems, Inc.;

Zahner and Company.

However, not every business has a file in the collection. Furthermore, there are some files in the collection relating to the publication of the text as a whole.