The papers of Harold T. Stearns span the years 1905 to 1975 with the bulk of the material covering the years 1930 to 1945.

The papers include printed articles by Stearns and others on Pacific island volcanoes and ground water studies, typescripts of two articles and typed abstracts of others. There are also original illustrations for many of Stearn's articles as well as some unidentified drawings. Also included are articles on geologic features in the western United States.