The collection consists mainly of minutes, financial records, manuscripts of unpublished texts and correspondence. It provides interesting detail on what one section of society thought would provide education for another. There is much useful information on the reading preferences of the public, and on the growth and development of Mechanics' Institutes. Most of those concerned with the founding of the Society as a project in self-education were also involved in the founding of the new University of London (now University College London) and some, like Augustus De Morgan and George Long, actually taught there. There is also considerable information on the work of publishers, illustrators, engravers and booksellers and on writers, whether already established authorities in their field or young hopefuls, like G H Lewes, who sought to establish themselves through the Society's patronage.

Papers, 1942-c1970, of Patrick Smith, largely typescript dispatches or transcripts for broadcasts for the BBC on foreign affairs from various locations where he was stationed, and including material on World War Two, and on affairs in the Roman Catholic Church and the Vatican in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Papers and correspondence, 1929-1975 and undated, of Julia Frances Strachey, including diaries, notebooks, manuscripts and typescripts, 1929-1975 and undated; letters to Julia, 1924-1956 and undated, the writers including Dora Carrington; letters to Stephen Tomlin and Julia, 1923-1930 and undated, the writers including Lytton Strachey; correspondence between Stephen Tomlin and Julia, 1930-1931; correspondence between Julia and Lawrence Gowing, 1939-1971 and undated, and other letters to Julia, 1952-1967 and undated; personalia, including a copy of a divorce certificate, 1967, a will, 1971, a business diary, 1971, an appointment diary, 1974, passports, and an undated address book; postcards and photographs, largely undated, mainly miscellaneous works of art but also including Lytton and Oliver Strachey, Dora Carrington, and Stephen Tomlin; a scrapbook, 1932-1971, mainly comprising press cuttings including reviews of Strachey's novels, with a few miscellaneous letters inserted.

Letter from James Hanley to Frank Hollings, bookseller, offering to sell manuscript of his first novel Drift and also the manuscript of Captain Bottele, 6 Nov 1933.

Letter from Thomas Hay Sweet Escott of 33 Sackville Road, Hove, Brighton, [Sussex] to John Collins Francis, 1 Apr 1916. Mentioning several writers for the Standard: 'During all my Standard time Alfred Austin the Poet Laureate was one of the chief writers. After my time I believe that Sidney Low, formerly under [Frederick] Greenwood of the Pall Mall, a certain [Samuel Henry] Jeyes and a certain Richardson Evans were considered important writers ...'.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from John Stuart Mill of India House, [London] to an unidentified publisher, 30 Mar 1844. Referring to the publication of Essays on some Unsettled Questions of Political Economy.

Autograph, with signature.

Papers of Lena May Jeger, 1943-2004, mainly correspondence, reports, briefings, speeches, photographs and other papers relating to her work as a local councillor, MP and member of the House of Lords. Also includes draft articles, correspondence and other papers relating to her time as a journalist.

Papers, 1902-1933, of and concerning Solomon Tshekisho Plaatje, including biographical material, notes, correspondence and photographs.

Papers, 1935-1995, of Charles Granston Richards, comprising articles, reports, books, pamphlets and correspondence reflecting his work and interests. The papers cover his work with the Church Missionary Society in Kenya, East African Literary Bureau, Oxford University Press, Christian Literature Fund and Agency for Christian Literature Development in addition to his retirement years.

Papers of Francis Robert Moraes, 1930s-1974, reflecting his career as a journalist and author, particularly the period 1950-1974, and including his notebooks and diaries, 1950-1974, from Australia and New Zealand, South East Asia, China, Japan, Pakistan, India, Africa, Western and Eastern Europe and the USA; correspondence, 1956-1974, including professional and personal matters; newspaper clippings, regular columns and articles, 1945-1974, some for the Indian Express and Sunday Standard; reviews of his books, 1953-1961; photographs, 1930s-1970s; recorded broadcasts, 1965-1969; and the diary of Beryl Moraes, 1962.

Papers, c1917-1948, of William Sheldon Ridge, comprising photographs, manuscripts of books containing material used for his lectures on Chinese international relations, and miscellaneous papers. Includes papers relating to his wife Frances.

Papers, c1938-1948, of Barbara Whittingham-Jones, comprising articles written by her, in addition to her notes and background material, radio broadcast scripts and photographs relating primarily to political events in Malaysia and Indonesia. Articles discuss issues such as the Malay Revolt in Patani, 1945-1948; Malay nationalism; reports on the French colonisation of Siam; the fight for independence in Indonesia, 1945-; the Malino Conference, 1946; political development in South Celebes; the Dutch East India Co.; and Sarawak and its cession to Britain as a Crown Colony, 1946. Photographs include old and post-war Batavia; Japanese war-prisoners in Indonesia; the Malino Conference, 1946; Prime Minister Sutan Sjahrir of Indonesia; Dr. H. J. Van Mook, Dutch Lieutenant-Governor of the Indies; and the first anniversary celebrations of the Indonesian Republic at Jogjakarta, 17 August 1946.

Papers, c1932-1977, of Leonard John Barnes, comprising books, articles, unpublished manuscripts, reports, travel notebooks and some correspondence. The majority of papers in the collection relate to his interests in Africa, though there are also some papers relating to his educational work.

Contains material relating to the research and publication of a selection of Knightley's articles and books which relate to journalism, espionage and public scandal. This includes correspondence, press cuttings, research notes, interview transcripts, publishing contracts, lecture notes and photographs. The largest proportion of material relates to the research for his book 'The First Casualty', a seminal work for Journalism History and Communication studies.