The collection was initially compiled and arranged by Isabel Smith Stein the daughter of Dr. Elizabeth Cisney Smith, and consists of 6 linear feet of material housed in 17 boxes. This collection dates from 1887 to 1972 and is composed of two main series: Elizabeth Cisney Smith and Isabel Smith Stein. There is evidence that this collection was compiled by Elizabeth's family (primarily Isabel) for the purpose of recording the life of their mother Elizabeth Cisney Smith.

The first series includes: Dr. Smith's personal history and background, personal correspondence (primarily with family), medical practice, materials related to her husband Dr. Augustus Edwin Smith, photographs and audio materials.

The second series, relating to Isabel Smith Stein, consists of: Isabel's biographical writings, stories and articles, correspondence, and research files on women in medicine.

The strength of this collection comes from Dr. Smith's memoirs and personal writings, which add depth to the collection with her detailed accounts of attending the Woman’s Medical College, her involvement in women’s suffrage, as well as dealing with the turbulent times of The Great Depression. Stein's biographical writings are influenced by her mother’s life and summarize the uniqueness of her mother as female doctor during the first half of the 20th century. The collection has an extensive amount of correspondence both from and to Dr. Smith with various sources (primarily her family), which support the memoirs.