The Olive Percival Collection contains commercially-produced and handmade valentines dating from the 1820s to the 1930s, handmade paper dolls, daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, and tintypes, miniature hats, doll clothes, antique dolls, antique toys, miniature tea sets, textile samples, clothing, decorated boxes, correspondence, newspaper and magazine clippings, and advertisements from the late 1800s through the 1930s. The collection covers the years from the 18th Century to the 1930s with the bulk of the material ranging from the mid 1800s to the late 1930s.

This collection, with the exception of Series 1, 2, and 11, consists primarily of nontextual materials.

The collection is organized into 13 series: Series 1. Biographical and Related Material, 1901-present and undated Series 2. Ephemera, 1848-1938 and undated Series 3. Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, Tintypes (Ferrotypes) and Related Material Series 4. Dolls and Related Material Series 5. Doll Clothes Series 6. Doll Furniture Series 7. Doll Dishes and Tea Sets Series 8. Miniature Hats Series 9. Paper Dolls and Related Material Series 10. Toys and Related Material Series 11. Valentines and Related Material Series 12. Decorated Boxes including Cheese Boxes Series 13. Textiles