The papers are almost exclusively business records of the Baldwin Locomotive Works retained by Austin, and they reflect his successive responsibilities within the firm.

The earliest series consists of Austin's sketchbooks and loose sketches used in his work as draftsman and designer. Subsequent series contain correspondence with customers relating to their specifications and to Baldwin's tests. Complementing these are several series of engineering drawings (originals on paper and linen, blueprints, and photostats), a number of which were produced by Austin. Collectively, these series give a cross-section of the development of individual components and locomotive types for railroads in the United States and other countries.

Austin's "vertical," or reference, file of clippings, notes, and correspondence covers various aspects of locomotive design and railroad and company history. The administrative and foreign sales records date from Austin's tenure as president and director and include a board briefing book and journal, partly in old-style shorthand, dealing with corporate and labor issues. Two files relate to Austin's non-Baldwin interests: one of personal correspondence and one of cartoons on contemporary railroad, political, and social issues.