The collection contains papers of the company and personal papers of Oliver Simon, Herbert Simon, and Basil Harley. These include correspondence; papers relating to specific printing jobs and to types, paper, printing processes, etc.; business papers; and specimens of printing.

This series consists mainly of files formerly in Meynell's boxes labelled 'The written word' and 'The spoken word'. Larger files are separate subseries here. Smaller files are grouped in subseries B58-62. Most items include the composition itself in some form, but a few lack this and have only correspondence or other papers relating to it. A few compositions, mostly occasional speeches, done as part of Meynell's duties to an organization, are in series F.