Airy's early correspondence, containing letters from Atkinson, Beddingfield, Buckle, Challis, Crawford, De Morgan, Drinkwater, Guest, Ibbotson, Keeling, Malkin, Marton, Myers, Robley, Rothman, Sutcliffe and Wright, with an index to the correspondents at the end.

The archives comprise the records of internal governance, finance, building and equipment development and astronomical observation, together with several small assortments of personal papers of individuals associated with the University Observatory, its sister and successor bodies, such as G.B. Airy, H.F. Newall and R.O. Redman.

Correspondence regarding Airy's lectures at Ipswich on astronomy. The initial correspondence concerns the preparations for the lectures, including the provision of apparatus. The later correspondence concerns the publication of the lectures and requests for this work. The correspondents include J. Challis, E. Dunkin, G. Ransome, C. May and R. Sheepshanks. The papers include a proof sheet of the lectures and a syllabus.

Correspondence concerning requests for reduced lunar observations, etc.; computation of the geocentric places of the planets; instructions and computations for planetary reductions; Bradley's reduced observations; and reductions of the minor planets. The correspondents include J.W. Lubbock, J.C. Adams, W.S. Stratford, J.F. Encke, F. Baily, J. Challis and P.A. Hansen.

Correspondence with, primarily, lunar computers concerning the engagement of computers, office regulations and the conduct of computers, occasional orders and tasks to be performed, testimonials, leave of absence, and accounts and salaries. The correspondents include Lord Wrottesley, J. Challis, R. Grant, M.J. Johnson, G. Fisher, J. Washington and J. Glaisher.

Correspondence with tradesmen, initials A-M, including letters from instrument makers; oil refiners; coal merchants; and booksellers. There is also correspondence with Cooper, Challis and Brooke. The papers include a catalogue for an auction by Messrs Bullock of telescopes, object glasses, opera glasses and Daguerreotype apparatus. There is also a Penny Red Stamp on folio 45.

Correspondence, letters A-L, regarding pendulum experiments at Harton, including a letter to the Academie des Sciences, correspondence with the Admiralty, and correspondence with, among others, J. Anderson, G.A. Biddell, J.R. Hind, R.C. Carrington, Professor J. Challis, G.S. Criswick, E. Dunkin, W. Ellis, Professor M. Faraday, J. Glaisher, E. Green, Sir John Herschel, Lt Col. James and M.J. Johnson.

Letters from various observatories on filling vacancies, grant testimonials and orders for observations to be performed. The correspondents include W.C. Bond, J. Challis, O. Struve, O.M. Mitchel, C.P. Smyth, Lord Wrottesley, the Earl of Rosse, W.H. Sykes, P.P. King, Sir B. Hawes, R. Sheepshanks, Sir H.G. Ward and C. Pasley. Some of the later names were associated with the government. The volume also includes two copies of a report by C.P. Smyth on the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh.