The original donation of Heald family papers, made in 1958, consists of 400 letters, five letter-books and six volumes of diaries. The bulk relates to Walter Heald, to his wife Emily Isabel, née Krabbé, whom he met there, and to the firm of Krabb, Higgins & Co. of Buenos Aires, general merchants. Most of the correspondence consists of business letters from this country and from South America written and received by Walter Heald, who seems to have acted as a representative for the company. There are also four diaries written by Heald during his voyage to and residence in Buenos Aires, 1866-1870, and a two-volume diary kept by his future wife, 1869-1871.
Additional uncatalogued material acquired in 1996 and 1997, chiefly comprises the papers of Charles Brehmer Heald (5 boxes), including a typescript copy of his unpublished autobiography relating his colourful wartime experiences, scrapbooks, printed matter, correspondence and personal papers. These will be of interest to students of the history of medicine and particularly of the military medical services. There are also further family papers, including photographic prints, relating to the Heald, Hall and Krabbé families.