The collection contains the papers of Charlotte DeMonte Phelps, economist and Professor of Economics Emerita at Temple University. The papers are primarily academic in nature, but contain some personal documents. They contain information about her life in academia, course materials, research, and writings. Also present is her professional correspondence.

The collection contains several series: Correspondence, Teaching Material, Writings, Professional Service and Personal Files. Most of the collection is comprised of material related to Phelps' academic endeavors. Her correspondence covers 1957-2010 and primarily addresses colleagues across the field of economics. The teaching material is from a number of her most-taught courses and includes student papers Phelps deemed excellent and worthy of saving. The writings include her honor's thesis, dissertation, and a number of published articles. Unpublished works such as conference papers can be found in a compilation of materials prepared for a promotion and tenure committee, along with further correspondence, both of which are housed in the Professional Service Series. Also present are a number of conference programs and proceedings attended by Phelps that attest to her involvement in her field. The personal files deal mainly with her marriage to Edmund Phelps, including a marriage license, photographs, and series of letters following their divorce. Also included are a number of photographs with colleagues and a scrapbook of photographs.