The Grubb Parsons Papers include papers on instrumentation for observatories, company publications, and items relating to the history of the company, including two personal albums by former employees.

Series 1 is comprised of instrumentation papers. They include an article by Sir Howard Grubb Parsons and Company on the 36 Inch Reflecting Telescope for the Royal Observatory, Greenwich; a technical drawing and report on the 74” reflector built for the Radcliffe Observatory, Pretoria; and brochures, slides and a press pack on the Isaac Newton Telescope.

Series 2 is comprised of publications relating to the firm, including scientific papers published by Thomas Grubb, Sir Howard Grubb, and Sir Charles Parsons; a set of trade catalogues highlighting new developments in optical glass and astronomical and optical instruments; and copies of the Heaton Works Journal of C.A. Parsons and Co.

Series 3 relates to the history of Grubb Parsons. It includes a printed history by G.E. Manville, General Manager at Sir Howard Grubb, Parsons and Co. Ltd; a notice of a memorial window to Sir Charles A. Parson; and an album containing a typed history of Grubb Parsons with accompanying black and white photographs, compiled by a former employee there.

Series 4 is comprised of historical material compiled by Tom Broadbent, who worked for Charles Parsons at Heaton Works and later as Chief Draughtsman at Grubb Parsons. The series contains Broadbent's personal photographs and papers recording his work for Grubb Parsons at the Observatory of Pop Ivan, Poland, and on the photographic zenith tube (PZT) at Neuchatel, Switzerland. It includes a career scrapbooks, photographs and letters.