Photographs, most measuring approximately 195 x 145 mm or 150 x 95 mm, which were originally housed in an album presented by Chapman to King George V and Queen Mary during the 1930s. They have been disbound for conservation reasons. Many of the photographs are stamped on the reverse with Chapman's official stamp. Not all are his own work, however. Some photographs are captioned on the reverse, but many are not, and some scenes and individuals remain unidentified. Uncaptioned prints have been given brief descriptive titles in parenthesis.

The first section of photographs documents the experience of Canadian and British soldiers fighting on the Western Front during the First World War. It includes some striking images of the misery of trench warfare and of post-war memorial ceremonies held in Belgium in 1922. The second section contains some images of Canada’s First Nations, but largely reflects Chapman’s work as official photographer, recording the visits of distinguished guests to Victoria. These include several Royal Visits: the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, 1901; the Prince of Wales, 1910; and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, 1939. There are also photographs of the Coronation festivities organised for George VI in Victoria in 1937. Other distinguished visitors include Winston Churchill, Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, the King and Queen of Siam [Thailand], and Frederick Banting, the co-discover of insulin.

Newspaper cuttings dated 17 Oct 1996, describing the discovery of the album at Bircham Primary School, are also filed with the collection.