The sketches have not been mounted in chronological sequence, and appear to have come from two sources. The wash drawings are probably from a sketchbook, and the watercolours have been cut from a journal of the tour. The artist, who was English, travelled from Loch Lomond and the Trossachs to Inveraray, Staffa, Glencoe, Killin, and back to Loch Lomond. Inserted at the end are sketches of Edinburgh and Carlisle, a drawing, 1820, of Killarney and other unrelated material.

The bulk of the papers in this collection relate to the Canadian National Arctic Expedition, 1913-1918, and the part played in it by William McKinlay and the expedition leader, Vilhjalmur Stefansson. McKinlay's account of his experiences, especially those of being shipwrecked and marooned on Wrangel Island, off the coast of Siberia, were published by him in 'Karluk: the great untold story of Arctic expedition'.

The log (folio 4) which is illustrated with pen and ink sketches, records a voyage on the yacht ‘The Ladye’ from Loch Hourn to Lewis and Skye in October 1859. The other sketches, which are pasted to large sheets, depict scenes during a voyage on the 'Lotus' to Skye and Rona in October 1855 (folio 19) and were probably added to the later narrative by Mrs Ellice.