The five-volume collection features a catalog of Indian captivities by Frank Deering compiled and donated by Marius Barbeau. The first volume, Mss.016.9701.D365b, is a brief bibliographic catalogue of works in the "inner vault" listed in the Walsh catalogue and a list of books "referring to, or embodying captivities, in the outer room" and not listed in the Walsh catalogue, as well as works containing similar materials.