Harrison Maxwell and Tinney were both teachers, social intellectuals and active members in the Red Clydeside movement of the pre-war period. This collection primarily contains correspondence between the couple in the early years of their courtship and marriage, with one small folder of letters pertaining to letters from James C. Welsh to the pair. The collection also contains Harrison Maxwell's schoolteacher's briefcase, from his time teaching at Airdrie Academy, and a folder of his ephemera.

Letters are accompanied by manuscript notes by an unknown hand giving context to events and persons mentioned.