This collection contains records of Matthews’ personal and ministerial life, understanding that these topics overlap. The ministry series contains a sizeable compilation of Matthews’ sermons and bulletins as well as newspaper clippings detailing ministerial milestones, particularly her appointment as district superintendent and her consecration as bishop. There are also a significant number of congratulatory letters and other correspondence. Most of this series documents Matthews’ episcopacy. The education series contains mostly course notes and term papers that are listed in chronologically order by semester. The Women series constitutes mostly materials from workshops for women and women’s issues that Matthews led. The latter part of the collection consists of family records, such as photographs, information on dolls, and genealogical papers. Also, artifacts such as stoles, a clerical robe, pins, and Matthews’ copy of the 1980 Book of Discipline.

Record types include: correspondence, photocopies, handwritten transcripts, publications, photographs, financial records and contracts. This is the only known extent collection of Bishop Otterbein' s papers in the Western Hemisphere. The collection contains autographs and his ministerial credentials.