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 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.

George Ord made important contributions as an ornithologist and writer but is also famous for his contempt of fellow ornithologist John James Audubon. Throughout his life he published numerous scientific articles and assisted in completing Alexander Wilson's life's work, American Ornithology; or, The Natural History of the Birds of the United States. Ord also left his mark as a member of the American Philosophical Society and as the president of the Academy of Natural Science of Philadelphia. The George Ord collection consists primarily of outgoing personal correspondence to Charles Waterton ranging from 1831 to 1866 that highlights Ord's professional as well as personal affairs, most notably his hostility toward Audubon. The collection is supplemented by correspondence of Ord's to and from various individuals regarding personal and business matters.