Eleven diaries which reveal a sensitive and perceptive young woman. With her family, she traveled extensively in England, the United States, and most countries of the Continent. Her diaries describe her reactions to foreign scenes and places, and contain numerous references to her father and to her visit to Columbia University early in 1889. Also, a typewritten description of the diaries of Eleanor Joy's son, Sir Douglas Busk; and a copy of THE ANCESTORS OF PATRICK AND PERONELLE KINNEL, compiled by Sir Douglas Busk in 1970.

Personal letters written by Phoenix to friends and associates, and letters which Phoenix collected as autograph specimens, ranging in date from 1554 (Melanchthon) to 1933 (Franklin D. Roosevelt). Over half of Phoenix's own letters are addressed to Josiah Collins Pumpelly (1839-1920), many others are to Henry Thayer Drowne (1822-1897). The material is dated from various places in the United States and Europe and contains accounts of Phoenix's travels and comments on yachting, books, the theater, and friends. There is a series of Presidential letters ranging from Washington to Franklin D. Roosevelt. Also, an engraved portrait of Phoenix.

The collection consists of five photograph albums and three scrapbooks compiled by the designer, style arbiter, and Parsons School of Design administrator and president Van Day Truex (1904-1979).