The collection mainly comprises correspondence, manuscript poems by George MacDonald, photographs, material relating to the membership of the George MacDonald Society and the publication of its journal, North wind , papers relating to plays performed by MacDonald and his family, and offprints of articles and ephemera including lecture timetables, 1845-1997, mainly compiled by Mrs Freda Levson; notably including original correspondence addressed to MacDonald and copies of letters from family members and friends such as his wife, Louisa Powell MacDonald, and John Ruskin, principally on MacDonald's health problems, Octavia Hill, Ruskin's relationship with Rose La Touche, MacDonald's preaching technique and on aspects of theology including the doctrine of providence, 1845-1932; correspondence between members of the Troup family, friends of the MacDonalds, including Charles Edward Troup and Frank Troup, with photographs and extracts from the Troups' published works, 1883-1995; correspondence with William Raeper, author of a biography entitled George MacDonald (Tring, 1987), compiled during its research, including with Lion Publishing, with surviving family members, and with libraries, notably the British Library and Yale University Library, 1984-1987; correspondence with Freda Levson and Richard MacDonald, descendants of George MacDonald, 1970-1982; photographs of MacDonald and family, his various residences and of visits by the George MacDonald Society to Bordighera, Italy, [1860-1986]; manuscript poems by MacDonald, 1876-1887; material relating to the staging of Pilgrim's progress and other drama by MacDonald, 1877-1977; copies of contributions to the journal of the George MacDonald Society, North wind , with proofs of the journal and supporting documentation, 1976-1996; press cuttings and reviews of publications and lecture tours by MacDonald, and of modern editions of his work, 1871-1997; timetables of lectures delivered by MacDonald, copies of library holdings of manuscript material on MacDonald, 1869-1985.

The records of the King's College London German Department consist of correspondence, order books and photographs, 1932-1995. These include correspondence concerning awards and prizes to students, correspondence with alumni, the method of student appraisals, applications for research funding granted to members of staff, the appointment of language assistants in the department as part of a German academic exchange scheme, relating to the heads of department, notably including correspondence with prominent scholars such as Professor Wolfgang Mohr, and especially concerning German Society drama productions including their organisation, funding and publicity, with photographs, 1959-1995; papers relating to the Beaver College Center for Education Abroad, 1982-1986; papers relating to applications for the vacant Chair of German, 1993- 1994 (closed); order books for publications requested by the department for incorporation in the library, 1932-1960; lists of students, [1944-1946].

Private papers of Duffy, [1960-1994], mainly comprising typescripts, manuscripts and proofs of her novels, plays and poems including The single eye (Hutchinson, London, 1964), The erotic world of faery (Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1972), Capital (Cape, London, 1975), Gor saga (Eyre Metheun, London, 1981), Illuminations (Sinclair-Stevenson, 1991), Occam's razor (Sinclair-Stevenson, London, 1993), and Henry Purcell (Fourth Estate, London, 1994); notes, reviews, performing scripts, talks and related material concerning her writings.