The John Carrington Cross Papers consist of typescript plays and short stories created by Cross while a graduate student in the dramatic arts department at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. A prolific writer who kept a wide circle of friends, Cross wrote regularly to friends and former classmates, some of whom were serving in the military during World War II. The collection contains many letters, from both male and female service members, that discuss work and living conditions in naval ships, bases, and military hospitals. Letters describe how the US military attempted to eliminate homosexuality in its members using pseudo-scientific conversion therapies. Letters also contain Cross and his friends' discussions of their sexuality

Other correspondence includes letters between Cross and his parents, Wirt H. and Madolyn O’Keefe Cross, created between 1940-1970. The early letters describe Cross’ experience as a college student living on campus during the war and the financial hardships he faced. Cross regularly asks his parents for loans of money, supplies, or ration books, which he earnestly documents and repays in later years. There are also several letters written to Cross’ mother from friends and relatives dated 1915- 1970. Letters from William Baldwin, written between 1915-1918, discuss his frequent travels to mining towns in North Carolina to provide dental services, and his time serving in the Army Dental Corps during WWI. Also included in the collection are scrapbooks, photographs, playbills, theatre programs, postcards, newspaper clippings, a daily calendar and journal, pocket notebooks, last will and testaments of various family members, greeting cards, wedding and graduation invitations, report cards, achievement certificates, and various notes, documents, and ephemera.