The collection contains a wide range of correspondence and papers relating to the activities of the Royal Observatory during Harold Spencer Jones' time in office, with some additional material from later periods. The subjects covered include the history and internal affairs of the Observatory, including staffing, meetings, visitations, visits abroad and annual reports; the Observatory's instruments; relations with the Admiralty and H.M. Dockyards; the Observatory's moveable property, including acquisitions, gifts and loans; relations with tradesmen; stationery and the printing of Observatory publications; chronometers; the acquisition of equipment; magnetism; meteorology; motor transport; the Cape Observatory; general astronomy, including material concerning other observatories; various institutions, such as the Royal Society, Royal Astronomical Society and the International Astronomical Union, including personal correspondence of Observatory staff; and the measurement of time. There are also papers throughout the collection relating to the Observatory's transfer to Herstmonceux.