The collection consists of Edith Smellie's diary, a photograph, and notebook "Visiting List." The first section of her diary recounts a trip from Brockville, Ontario, to New York from October 2-10, 1888. She and her companions left Brockville by steamboat and transferred to rail at Morristown. The diary details visiting Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as well as Macy's and other stores. The final pages of the diary contain calculations and a short list of purchases, including boots, shoes, paints, and collars. A few pages in the diary begin to recount a second trip in 1889, as well as some poems. In addition to the diary is a sepia cabinet portrait by Sheldon & Davis, Kingston. The visiting list contains numbered entries of visitors for 1897, 1898, and 1899. There are also some addresses.

Letter from Charles J. Morrison to his father, James Morrison, with news that he has arrived in New York City and some discussion of his travel and his lack of cash.

Letter from Benjamin Thompson to James Morrison about compensation Morrison has claimed against the American Government. According to a previous inventory, this amount was for unpaid goods supplied to the American government during the Revolutionary War.

Letter from G.R. Prentiss to Robertson Masson & Co. with proposal to buy some discounted goods on their behalf from vendors in New York City.

Item consists of 1 letter, dated and signed, from James Abbott to Palmer Cox regarding proofs of Brownie pictures in 1910 issues of St Nicholas, and arrangements concerning the next Brownie book

The fonds consists primarily of written material, most of which seems to be from the hand of Palmer Cox (poems, speeches, drafts of published or unpublished works). There is also some graphic material, financial records and parts of correspondence.
The fonds also contains several graphic parts illustrating Brownies books in the making.