This collection contains biographical material on William Parsons, a Pennsylvania soldier, surveyor, and proprietary agent of the provincial government and Thomas Penn. It is arranged by repositories and collections containing information on Parsons (including the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Haverford College, and the Horsfield Papers at the American Philosophical Society). There are transcripts from sources, photostats, notes, and microfilm.

This diary is a journal of a trip from Philadelphia by stage to Pittsburgh, then afoot through Franklin, LeBoeuf, and Erie to the Huron River; thence by boat to Detroit, where he remained 26-29 July, when he set out by canoe for Michilimackinac. Included are descriptions of Detroit, plants, animals, springs, Indian mounds, and notes on goitre.