The collection consists of modern 5" x 4" copy negatives from an album containing twenty prints measuring approximately 155 x 110 mm, with handwritten captions on the mounts in Russell's hand. The captions have been recorded as found and may contain offensive, inappropriate or outdated terms. They have been retained to reflect the context of the collection's creation. An inscription on the inside cover reads: 'To Jack with best wishes for a prosperous future from Alec 1.1.02.' The album offers an interesting visual record of Salisbury and the surrounding areas in Rhodesia's early days.

Several prints relating to Russell's period in Australia had been removed by the Australian donors before the album was passed to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The captions relating to these prints are as follows:

i) The old mud cabin, Balladonia, W.A. Ah! Those were the days when my beard was black, I like to remember them now and then

ii) Telegraphist's camp repeating station, Coolgardie-Eucla Line. Our old camp at Balladonia, Nullabor Desert, W.A. 1898

iii) Afghans 'cadging' some of our small supply of water for the 'ship of the desert' - en route from Coolgardie to S. Aust. (Balladonia, W.A.)

iv) Nullabor plains. 175 miles from Norseman and approximately half way twixt Coolgradie and Eucla. Natives commencing Umu C'b'e, Balladonia, W.A. 1897