The Backlund papers span two boxes of two cubic feet, dating between 1893 and 1951.

The General folder holds various documents, such as admission to the Swedish Theological Seminary of the University of Chicago in 1897, his ordination at Red Wing, Minnesota in 1900, a magazine photo of the graduating class from Morgan Park in 1902, a wedding invitation from 1906, and an application to serve as an Army chaplain in 1918.

The Correspondence series contains letters dating between 1908 and 1941, many of which deal with the business of the Conference Press. Several letters from the early 1920s deal with Robert Fetler and the Russian Baptists in Vladivostok prior to the Soviet takeover, further described in the August Lindstedt papers.

The Writings folder holds various articles and other writings by Backlund, including a autobiographical account, a translated "The Gospel of the Printed Word", "Childhood Dreams and Youthful Visions", "To America", and "From Jubilee to Jubilee."

An original diary from 1893 and a copied version are in Swedish, as is the 1898 diary.

A notebook contains Swedish handwritten notes, some of which are crossed out. It is undated.

Backlund's Doctor of Divinity diploma from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary dates to 1938.

A Testimonial certificate of appreciation from the Baptist General Conference of America was presented to Backlund at the BGC 70th Annual Meeting at Omaha on 1949.

Two scrapbooks are included in the collection. One was presented to J.O. Backlund at his retirement from editing the Standard as a token of appreciation from the Baptist General Conference on January 26, 1946. It holds letters of thanks from various members of the Baptist General Conference. The second scrapbook dates between 1950 and 1951 and is in Swedish. It is from his trip to Sweden when he was honored with the Order of Vasa by the king.