The collection documents Copeland's years as President (1962-1967) and DuPont's Chairman of the Board (1967-1971). There is also limited material from his earlier roles as Secretary and Vice President. The papers reflect the company's strategy of international expansion during the 1960s, apparent in Copeland's voluminous correspondence with the International Department. The papers also demonstrate concern for disappointing corporate earnings during the 1960s as the company struggled with a more competitive marketplace and ballooning research costs. There are also letters sent to Copeland's office from individual employees and customers, as well as the replies sent by Copeland or other company representatives. Such letters often contain sentiments of appreciation, complaints about faulty products, or unsolicited ideas for new products.

The papers are split into the following four series: Chairman of the Board correspondence, Presidential correspondence, personal company files, and Secretary and Vice Presidential correspondence and speeches.

The Chairman of the Board correspondence series includes congratulatory messages for Copeland becoming chairman and other routine correspondence. The folder of U.S. Government correspondence includes letters from President Richard Nixon (1913-1994), among other items from government officials. Also included are materials from the 1971 Annual Stockholders' Meeting.

The series of Presidential correspondence makes up the bulk of the collection. There is much correspondence concerning the company's various departments, including from individual employees and customers, as well as the replies sent by Copeland or other company representatives. International expansion is a common theme within the series, particularly in the correspondence with the International Department and corporate planning materials. Copeland corresponded with a number of government members, including Senator Robert F. Kennedy (1925-1968) and Vice President Humbert Humphrey (1911-1978).

The small series of personal company files includes analyses of how DuPont stockholders retained or sold bonus stocks, correspondence concerning Copeland's bonuses as a DuPont executive, and salary studies of clerical and production personnel.

The series of Secretary and Vice Presidential correspondence and speeches primarily includes materials on the civil antitrust proceedings of United States of America vs. DuPont, General Motors, et al. The series also includes the text of several speeches made by Copeland.