The department's collections include the complete private archives of eminent composers, as well as the archives of Israeli institutions of music. Outstanding amongst the archives of pre-state and Israeli composers are those of Sasha Argov, Paul Ben-Haim, Andre Hadju, Moshe Wilensky, Dov Seltzer, Emanuel Zamir, Mordechai Zeira, Marc Lavry, Daniel Samburski , Mordechai Seter, Yair Rosenblum, Naomi Shemer and Noam Sheriff.
The material found in the archives includes – apart from written and recorded music, in draft and final form – many additional items related to the composition process and the performance, such as correspondence with colleagues and performers, concert recordings, announcements and programs, reviews and photographs.