The John Burke Papers are grouped into three series.

Series One consists of biographical materials, including typescript copy of articles regarding Burke published in various newspapers and magazines as well as a selection from Lewis Crawford's History of North Dakota. Also included are newspaper clippings, mementos and posthumous honors, including the launching of Liberty Ship "John Burke" in 1942 and the unveiling of a statue of Burke in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in 1963.

Series Two consists of Burke's correspondence and writings. Correspondence, both incoming and outgoing, is mostly complete for 1916, but is quite limited in other years. Also included is a file containing 125 letters of congratulation received by Burke upon his first election to the governorship in 1906, and correspondence with Usher Burdick  from 1930-1932.

Series Three is comprised of research notes and correspondence by the Catholic Historical Society of St. Paul from a project conducted after Burke's death in May 1937. Correspondence files include numerous detailed personal reminiscences of Burke's life by friends and colleagues.