The John Hove Papers consist primarily of materials related to Hove's unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1963. Arranged first are the campaign materials, including advertisements, correspondence, text of speeches and newspaper clippings. Also included is a document entitled "Thoughts on the Hove-Andrews Campaign." This document may have been composed by someone hired by the Hove campaign, as it highlights crucial differences between the candidates, and provides advice to Hove on how to best address these differences.
Following the campaign material are general documents related to the life of John Hove and his family. Included are newspaper clippings and correspondence, a limited edition printing of a poem by Thomas McGrath and the invitation and program from the 1965 inauguration of President Lyndon Johnson and Vice-President Hubert Humphrey. Obituaries and memorials of Hove's death in 1984 are also included.