The James Dix Schuyler collection consists of unpublished reports, correspondence, and other documents. The reports cover Schuyler's work as a consulting engineer in the Western U.S., Brazil, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Panama, and Puerto Rico.

A notable aspect of the Schuyler collection is the photographic record represented within the reports. Schuyler illustrated many of his reports with original black-and-white photographs. He also provided detailed captions describing them. Included among the photographs are many images documenting contemporary life in the communities in which Schuyler was consulting on waterworks projects. Photographs of public buildings, private residences, street scenes, and landscapes can be found alongside images of dams, canals, and other hydraulic structures.