This collection of approximately 1,700 holy cards documents styles, themes, and characteristics of Marian holy cards between the years circa 1853 to 2001. The bulk of the cards date between 1880s to 1950s. The collection represents Marian iconography and pictorial work, devotional themes, Marian titles, pilgrimage sites, and Marian prayers. Some of the primary themes documented in the collection include the Immaculate Conception, the life of Mary, Heart of Mary, Lourdes and Marian shrines, as well as many additional themes.

The collection is composed primarily of holy cards including cards for private devotion, souvenir cards from Marian shrines, cards distributed to commemorate a special occasion, and prayer cards. The collection includes a small number of additional devotional and ephemera materials including prayers, postcards, brochures, and scapulars.

The bulk of the cards are of French provenance, but some Belgian, German, and Italian cards are included in the collection. Most of the cards are approximately 2.5" x 4.5", and the design elements represented include rectangular cards with a straight edge, die-cut lace bordered cards, and cards with decorative or scalloped edges. The mediums represented in the collection include printed illustration, painting, and photography, including both color and black and white. The earlier cards were most likely printed using lithography or chromolithography. The majority of the cards are printed on paper, but some have also been printed on cloth or vellum. A very small number of the cards appear to have been made by hand, either by textile work or cut paper with hand illustrations. Many cards contain text or a prayer on the back and some cards include handwriting (in French).

A large number of the cards represent the 'Sulpicien' style and were published in the Saint-Sulpice quarter of Paris by Maison Bouasse-Lebel and its successor, Bouasse-Jeune, as well as Ch. Letaille.