Contains 11 letters addressed to Nora Barlow née Darwin. All but one of the letters were written in France where Ruth Darwin was working as a volunteer at an 'English Canteen', first at the Foyer de Avenay from July 1917 and later at a foyer established in Sainte-Menehould from October 1918. In addition to enquiries of family news, the letters include Ruth's opinions of fellow volunteers, accounts of soldiers' attitudes to the war and some description of her activities.
Also includes a letter from Ida Darwin to Nora dated 24 April 1917 reflecting on the second anniversary of the death of Erasmus Darwin. Enclosed in the same envelope is a press cutting of an obituary for Erasmus written by Bernard Darwin and published in 'The Times' on 30 April 1915.