This collection comprises lectures, essays, drafts, notes, indexes, transcripts and photographs reflecting John Saltmarsh's extensive research into the history of Cambridge from medieval times, the development of its colleges, and particularly the building of King's College and its Chapel. Secondary material is also listed, including copies of Saltmarsh's own writings and books or pamphlets found among his papers.
For conservation purposes, many of the lever-arch box files which formerly held these papers have been replaced with archival envelopes. The original order of material within such boxes has been preserved, and John Saltmarsh's labels have been transcribed in the relevant section of this catalogue. Where many duplicates had been made, carbon copies have been removed where they did not show additional annotations.