The collection consists of photographs, newspaper clippings, pamphlets and a few letters relating to Donald Carpenter's personal life and career. Many of the images relate to Carpenter's career with the DuPont Company, especially his tenure as General manager of the Film Department. These include images of Carpenter touring assorted DuPont film plants, attending film department and sales department staff meetings, and meeting with other DuPont executives. Carpenter's employment with the Remington Arms Company is also featured in several photographs, which are primarily formal portraits taken in Carpenter's office and photographs showing groups of executives. A significant number of newspaper clippings and magazine articles featuring Carpenter and his work with DuPont are also part of the collection. Pamphlets in the collections include an early 1960s pamphlet from the DuPont Film department featuring samples of the assorted films that the company developed and produced.

Carpenter's government service is also well represented in the collection. Images of Donald Carpenter being sworn in as Chairman of the Munitions Board and posing formally with the Board and its staff are part of the collection. Several images feature Munition Board meetings. A number of pictures of government and military officials, most of which are autographed, are also included in the collection. These include Presidents Truman and Eisenhower, Secretary of Defense James Forrestal, Secretary of Defense Louis Johnson, Secretary of the Army Gordon Gray, General Omar Bradley, Army Chief of Staff Joseph L. Collins and noted scientist, Vannevar Bush. There are also copies of letters of congratulations and recognition for Carpenter's work with the Atomic Energy Commission and the Munitions Board. Images featuring Donald Carpenter's civic and personal interests round out the collection. A number of photographs reflect Carpenter's longtime involvement with MIT; these show both alumni activities and meetings of planning committees of the MIT Corporation. Carpenter's personal life and inteterests are respresented by a small file of images including his wedding photograph, images of leisure activities and photographs of his uncle, Edmund N. Carpenter.