Raw Material Samples, 1939, 1960-1967: The samples collected here include a variety of grades and types of wool, both virgin and re-processed; nubs; silk; rayon; orlon; etc. The wide range of types of wool and their peculiar characteristics as well as the properties of the other fibers constitute an important input into the design of the fabric; they are also an important factor in the cost of the finished product.

Picking Records, 1952-1965: These records are the specifications for carding, the initial processing of raw materials. At the end of the carding process raw material can be spun into thread. Information shown includes style number, dyes, type of raw material, and the cost of each.

Carding Blends, 1952-1960: These samples are the finished product of the carding operation. At this stage raw materials have been cleaned, combed, and mixed and are ready to be spun into a specific style of thread. Arrangement of the 1952-1954 samples is by year. Those from 1955-1960 are organized by style number. This style number corresponds to the style number on the picking records; consequently it is possible to trace the exact recipe for many of the samples in this series.

Yarn Samples, ca. 1940-1960, 1966-1967: Small samples of yarns spun at Reedsburg or available for sale to the mill. The first box contains samples probably dating from the 1940's and early 1950's. The remaining samples are organized by year.

Design Sheets, 1922-1967: A design sheet shows the complete specifications for the production of a particular style of fabric. These include the color and size of yarn, weaving drafts (color arrangement and fabric structure), weight, and width of the finished cloth. In many cases a sample of the finished cloth is also attached. The 1922-1962 design sheets are organized by year and within each year range numbers are designated. Due to the changing and somewhat confusing pattern of range numbers, sheets are not always in order by range number within each box. The 1963-1967 sheets are on file, cards and are organized strictly by range number.

Fabric Samples, 1877-1878, 1939-1942, 1952-1963: One fabric sample book dates from 1877-1878, shortly before the Reedsburg mill was erected. The balance of the samples are primarily from Reedsburg's own products and provide a visual cross-section of the mill's products. Most prominent are samples of men's overcoating and top coating, women's coating and suiting, children's coating, blankets, and plaids for “buffalo shirts” (heavy outdoor sportsmen's shirts). The samples are woolens or blends of wool with other fibers such as rayon, nylon, orlon, or silk. The term woolen is used in a techical sense as opposed to worsted, both products being made from wool but spun according to different systems. Much time and effort went into identifying these samples, but many of the dates are still just approximations. Like the design sheets, the samples are organized by year and range numbers are identified. The range numbers correspond to those on the design sheets making it possible to find the weaving specifications for many of the specific samples. Also included are a few samples from other domestic and foreign mills. Comparing these with Reedsburg's own designs shows that the products of competitors were an important source of ideas for the company's designers.

Dye Records, 1941, 1947, 1954-1963: These records include the results of several dye analysis tests, dye formulas from Reedsburg and other companies, and a large number of dye record cards. The cards are the specifications for raw material and piece dyeing. They show the quantity of material, names of dyes and chemicals used, and amounts. The piece dyeing records also show the style number which corresponds to the range numbers of the fabric samples. Arrangement within each category (raw materials and piece dyeing) is chronological.