The Ladies Scottish Climbing Club was founded in 1908 by Jane Inglis Clarke, her daughter Mabel Inglis Clark (later Jeffey), and Lucy Smith. All three had climbed extensively in Scotland and the Alps, sometimes in the company of their respective male family members and friends. Since the Scottish Mountaineering Club did not yet accept female members, the three women decided to form their own Club to further extend their climbing activities.

The first New Year's Meet was held in 1908-09 and a programme of regular Meets began, with the Club visiting all the main climbing areas in Scotland.

The Club would go on to include many well-known names in the history of mountaineering as members, including Annie Hirst, Esme Speakman, Betty Stark, Cynthia Marr, Evelyn McNicol (née Camrass), Elma Wrench, Monica Jackson, and Helen Steven. Members were involved in climbs across Scotland and further afield, including Norway, Greenland and the Himalayas.

Members celebrated the centenary of the Club in 2008 and continue to organise regular Meets.

The papers here include early records of climbs by the Ladies, Meets of the Club and two boxes of glass slides, largely of women climbing. There are also some items relating to specific members of the Club - the diaries of Pat Bell and a photograph album of co-founder Lucy Smith.