These reels include letters to George Ord in Pennsylvania (1830-1869) and letters to Charles Edmonstone and sisters-in-law Eliza and Helen Edmonstone. There are also extracts of four volumes of observations on birds recorded by Norman Moore (1862-1871) and letters to Moore.

This material relates to Alexander B. Grosart's biography of Wilson. There are notes and copies of letters and documents, including a copy of Wilson's will. There is one poem by Wilson, "The Last Wish," and an 1806 letter to William Bartram.

This collection of letters and documents relates primarily to Charles Waterton (B W31n) but included as well are papers of the family (B W31m). Most of the letters to or from Waterton concern birds, bird mating, domestic news, natural history, and Walton Hall, his estate. In addition, there are recipes and a housekeeping account book (1780-1781). There are numerous letters with his sisters-in-law, Eliza and Helen Edmonstone, and also an exchange of letters between Waterton's son Edmund and Sir George Bowyer concerning Papal audiences.

This collection contains professional and personal correspondece, as well as some personal business accounts. The topics mentioned range from general ornithology to specific birds, particularly of the West Indies and South America; bird illustrations and various publications; paleontology, and zoology.