Records in the Paul Washburn papers primarily reflect his professional life. Documents illustrate his pastoral philosophy even when administering denominational work on both a national and international scale. This is evident in the kinds of records such as sermons, Bible studies, episcopal messages and ecumenical discussions. Global interests are manifested with his work at the General Board of Global Ministries, General Board of Christian Unity which reflect contemporary views for the period reflected in related documents. As co-chair of the important United Methodist - Roman Catholic Dialogue, which came from his work with Christian Unity, is rooted in his Evangelical United Brethren Church roots of ecumenical understanding and cooperation. Perhaps his greatest contribution to the church came as Executive Secretary for the group responsible to administratively pull off the merger between the Methodist and Evangelical United Brethren churches which is amply documented in the collection..

This collection contains materials relating to Clymer's life after his college days at Asbury. The earliest records are correspondence, addresses/sermons, and the graduate papers from the 1940's. Clymer's correspondence, the largest quantity of the record types in the collection, covers every year from 1942 through 1993, except for about ten years between the mid-1950's and 1967. Clymer's collection of addresses, sermons, and lectures is the next largest group of records, and dates from the early 1940's through the late 1980's. The collection also contains copies of some of Clymer's publications. The original accession contained copies of his books and books in which he was a contributor, as well as articles in widely circulated journals. These have been removed and transferred to the Methodist Library, Drew University, Madison, New Jersey. The collection also contains various clippings, programs, pamphlets, reports, and photographs.