The Biographical/personal series is a single folder containing a brief autobiographical sketch, the memorial written by the University Senate following his death in 1960, and a personnel form listing his education, positions held, and publications.
The Professional files series documents Pillsbury's career as a psychologist, his research and scholarly contributions, and his relationship with students, university colleagues, and other members within his discipline. The series is further divided into subseries of Correspondence, University of Michigan related materials, Writings, and Miscellaneous.
The Correspondence subseries is arranged by date and in one instance by topic. Pillsbury's correspondents include Henry F. Adams, Floyd Henry Allport, James R. Angell, George F. Arps, Henry M. Bates, Alfred Binet, Edwin G. Boring, Norman A. Cameron, James M. Cattell, Moses Gomberg, Wilbert B. Hinsdale, Percy Hughes, Clark L. Hull, Harry B. Hutchins, William James, Clarence T. Johnston, Charles H. Judd, Kurt Lewin, Norman Maier, Hugo Munsterberg, Carl Murchison, Carl Seashore, Edward Titchener, Edward C. Tolman, Howard C. Warren, Robert M. Wenley, Harry Wolfe, Lloyd S. Woodburne, Robert M. Yerkes, Clarence Yoakum, Robert S. Woodward, and Robert S. Woodworth. There are some family letters in this subseries, especially letters to his wife written while he was lecturing abroad, but the bulk of the letters among family members will be found in the Family Papers series.
The University of Michigan subseries includes lecture materials, examination papers written by Pillsbury students, and a miscellanea of material pertaining to the university psychology laboratory and later the department of psychology.
The Writings subseries includes drafts of published writings, an unpublished novel, and published reviews.