The John K. McLaughlin collection contains materials relating to the history of film, television and radio. These materials include scripts, posters, lobby cards, photographs, star contracts, and correspondence. In addition, there is a small collection of materials relating to horror, science fiction, and crime fiction.

These items were primarily assembled between 1962 and 1995 by members of the Binghamton University Theatre Department. The main focus of this collection is theater but there are also materials relating to motion pictures, music and dance. Included are scrapbooks, programs, photographs, and ephemera such as tickets and broadsides.