The papers consist largely of letters between Sir James Porter and his family, 1889 to 1913, and include accounts of various battles during the South African War. There are some Gallipoli signals and letters arranging for hospital transport, 1914 to 1917. Also included in the collection are letters relating to the Cowan family, into which Porter married (his father-in-law was Inspector-General of Hospitals and Fleets M.W. Cowan (1830-1903)). Also included are many personal papers of Lady Porter (nee Cowan).

Administrative / biographical background
Porter became a surgeon in the Navy in 1877 and after service abroad joined the SCOUT, Mediterranean Station, from 1889 to 1892. He then served at Bermuda Dockyard. In 1896 he was Staff Surgeon in the BRITANNIA and in 1897 went to the DORIS, flagship at the Cape of Good Hope, and was promoted to Fleet Surgeon there in 1898. Between 1899 and 1900 Porter was Principal Medical Officer to the Naval Brigade in South Africa and afterwards received special promotion to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals and Fleets. In 1902 he was appointed to the Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham and to Gibraltar in 1905. In the next year he became Inspector-General. Between 1907 and 1908 he was Principal Medical Officer at Haslar. In 1908 he became Medical Director-General of the Navy until his retirement in 1913. During 1915 he was Principal Hospital Transport Officer for the Mediterranean Station, being much concerned with the Gallipoli / Dardanelles campaign. He reverted to the retired list in 1917.