All of the slides were collected, and almost all were taken, by Arthur Wallace Donaldson (13 December 1901-18 January 1993) and his wife Violet Glenday Donaldson (24 June 1907-13 February 2007). Arthur Donaldson was leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 1960 to 1969, and both he and his wife were members from 1928 until their respective deaths.

Most of the slides dates from the 1950s and 1960s, a period during which Arthur Donaldson and Violet Donaldson both travelled very extensively for the SNP, and many slides record those travels.

Arthur Donaldson was also involved in local government in Forfar, and was Housing Convenor and then Provost during a period where there was very estensive housing expansion in Forfar, including the reclaiming of the Lochside. He documented that project and many of the house building schemes are present within the slides. Arthur Donaldson was Provost at the time of the building and opening of the Guide Dogs for the Blind headquarters in Forfar, and there is a collection of slides of its construction and the Queen opening it.