The James Watrous collection includes materials related to the activities of the Department of Art History, of which Watrous served as chairman. The documents include course materials, lectures, financing and inventory for campus art projects, as well as faculty and departmental correspondence. The collection also includes press and news related to his book "The Craft of Old Master Drawings."
Materials in the collection from other sources include, memorial projects, bibliographical information. Materials donated by the Watrous family include Scrapbook contents and notes as well as original artworks and cartoons. Memorial materials include articles and press related to Watrous's legacy in visual art and art history and articles documenting restoration and preservation of Watrous's artworks around campus.
