The collection had previously been deposited in a number of instalments at different times, and as it had been frequently consulted (and portions of it had been microfilmed for the Public Archives of Canada) before being catalogued, it has been catalogued chiefly in the order in which it had been provisionally arranged after deposit.
Except in MSS.15041-15046 (correspondence with Joseph Parkes), no attempt has been made to separate letters to Edward Ellice from those to his son, especially as letters addressed to the one were in any case meant to be shown to the other.
The papers are arranged as follows:
MSS.15001-15061. Edward Ellice and his son: general correspondence.
MSS.15062-15070. Edward Ellice and his son: family correspondence.
MSS.15071-15102. Correspondence and papers of Marion Coleman.
MSS.15103-15105. Correspondence on politics and on proposed publication of Ellice papers.
MSS.15106-15112. Estate and business correspondence.
MSS.15113-15129. Canada papers.
MSS.15130-15136. United State of America papers.
MS.15137. West Indies papers
MSS.15138-15139. Business account books.
MSS.15140-15151. Journals.
MSS.15152-15169. Estate books.
MSS.15170-15175. Drawings.
MSS.15176-15180. Miscellany.
MSS.15181-15186. Papers of Edward Ellice and Russell Ellice.
MSS.15187-15195. Legal and other papers.