Approximately one third of the bulk of papers comprise working papers and notebooks. About another quarter comprises correspondence, certificates and ephemera relating to honours awarded by various bodies or relating to Frederick Gowland Hopkins' association with learned societies. The remaining material is a combination of papers and photographs generated by Frederick Gowland Hopkins' family (much of it predating his birth); together with correspondence and papers he generated in a personal capacity. A handful of published biographies and obituaries were added to the collection prior to deposit.