The Rutter Collection consists of 12 cartons and 1 manuscript box containing files primarily documenting his association with the University of California at San Francisco (1969-1994) as professor of biochemistry, department chair and lab director including associated professional commitments: membership in professional organizations, work on advisory boards, and consulting. Some material on his involvement in the Biotech industry is included, although there is little or no evidence of Chiron activities. Chiron was co-founded by Rutter and Edward Penhoet in 1981. The papers include administrative and professional correspondence, subject files, some financial and personnel documents, minutes and agendas, conference materials and other materials that he produced during his career at UCSF.

The collection does not include any documentation of actual research, i.e., lab notebooks or experimental data, though administrative files on MUAs, grants, and patents are a part of the collection. Photocopies of some experimental data are included in the Patent files, but the actual lab notebooks apparently no longer exist. There are also extensive correspondence files covering the exchange of scientific information and materials.

The papers in this collection were all created or collected by Rutter in the course of his career, but they come from various offices; having moved with him from the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics to the Hormone Research Institute. Sally Hughes, a historian with the History of Health Sciences Department at UCSF arranged for the donation of the material as a part of her oral history research project with Rutter. The majority of the records came to Special Collections from the Hormone Research Institute office by way of Dr. Hughes. Additional records were transferred directly from the Hormone Research Lab.

The collection is organized into five subgroups. Each subgroup is arranged by series as necessary. The first covers Rutter's activities as Hertzstein Professor of Biochemistry (1969-1991), including his administrative duties as head of the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics (1969-1981) and as director of the Hormone Research Institute (1982-1989). Rutter's filling system maintained no distinction between his activities.

The second subgroup documents Rutter's wider involvement with the UC system and UCSF (particularly membership on the School of Medicine Executive Committee and other committee work).

The third includes materials on his various Professional Commitments: membership in professional organizations, service on editorial boards and as a manuscript and grant reviewer, consultant work and service on a variety of advisory boards.

The fourth subgroup documents his Business Commitments.

Patent materials form the fifth subgroup. These materials are preserved for their historic value, but are temporarily restricted for sensitive legal reasons.

Folders are usually arranged alphabetically within their series or subseries, exceptions include Travel which is arranged chronologically, and a part of Correspondence which is arranged hierarchically.