The material includes a memorandum in John Rennie's own hand concerning some of his major works, biographical sketches by Sir John and George Rennie, lists of reports compiled by Rennie and at one time in Sir John's possession, printed obituary notices by Charles Dupin, and A H F Sohlichtegrol, genealogical material concerning the Rennies and related families, and papers relating to the Society of Civil Engineers, and the Smeatonian Society, l821-early 20th century.