The collection consists of correspondence, manuscripts, a photograph (Trabzon, 1914-1915) and clippings. The correspondence dates from 1914-1915 and includes letters both to and from Shvart︠s︡, mostly dealing with World War I campaigns in the Trabzon region. There are military telegrams from 1914-1915 concerning events in Ivangorod, Kars and Stalʹt︠s︣ev. Shvart︠s︡' biography of Alexander III is the first volume of a planned two-volume work. It chronicles the 1845-1881 period and includes excerpts from a variety of contemporary sources, (approximently 200 pages of uncollated text) primarily describe World War I events on the Baltic, Belorussian and Caucasian fronts. "Na fronte i v tynu" is an excerpt from the memoirs of Antonina V. Shvart︠s︡, his wife. The clippings concern events in the Trabzon region during 1916.

Correspondence, manuscripts, subject files, a photograph, and printed materials of Taube. Most of the collection concerns his life in emigration. There are many letters from Nikolaĭ Roerich from the 1930's, concerning the Roerich Museum and the artist's political efforts. Manuscripts by Taube include memoirs of his years in the Imperial Government (1905-1917), and of his life in emigration, and also drafts of lectures which he gave at European institutions in the 1920's and 1930's. Subject files concern such topics as his service as a legal consultant for the Imperial Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Roerich Museum; the history of the Taube family; emigre monarchism; and educational institutions with which he was affiliated, especially the Acadʹemie de Droit Internationale de la Haye. There is also a large group of files on Russian history, which he prepared for a book he planned to write. The photograph is of Tsar Alexander III and his wife in Denmark.

Correspondence, documents, and a photograph of members of the Nabokov family. Included are 6 letters, a photograph, and 4 school documents of Dmitriĭ Dmitrievich Nabokov; birth, school, and marriage documents of his daughter, Sofii︠a︡ Dmitrievna Nabokova (Fasolt); letters to his brother Konstantin Dmitrievich Nabokov, 1 each from Sergeĭ Witte and Viscount Alfred Milner (photocopies); an autographed letter (1885) from Tsar Alexander III to Dmitriĭ Nikolaevich Nabokov (1827-1904); father of Dmitriĭ Dm. and Konstantin Dm.) asking for his resignation as Imperial Minister of Justice; and copies of an 1895 letter by Tsar Nicholas II to Dmitriĭ N. Nabokov.

The memoirs discuss Epanchin's military service under Tsars Alexander II, Alexander III, and Nicholas II, from the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-88 through the Civil War, and the emigration in Europe. Also included is a photocopy of the memoirs.

Correspondence, manuscripts, photographs and subject files of Witte. The correspondents include Ivan S. Aksakov, Tsar Aleksander III, Tsar Nicholas II, Konstantin P. Pobedonost︠s︡ev, I︠U︡riĭ Samarin, Lev N. Tolstoĭ and Kaiser Wilhelm II. The manuscripts, which constitute over half of the collection, consist of Witte's memoirs and of his work on the Russo-Japanese War, and include a signed typescript essay by Lev N. Tolstoĭ. The photographs depict the signing of the Portsmouth Treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War (Portsmouth, N.H.). The subject files, which are primarily typescript copies of documents, refer to such topics as the various assassination attempts on the tsars, questions of agrarian reform, relations with Germany, and the siege of Port Arthur. There is also a framed pen and ink drawing depicting an event in Witte's public career.

Collection includes 67 letters and telegrams, by Alexander's older brother Nikolaĭ; 65 letters and notes, some copies, by Nicholas II, from 1902-1913; a drawing and notes by Alexander III; and drafts of letters by Meshcherskiĭ. Also included is a group of letters in different hands hitherto identified as having been written by Nikolaĭ, Duke of Leuchtenberg, to Meshcherskiĭ.