The papers consist of two hundred and two files arranged alphabetically, as White left them, by subject. The topics covered by the collection include gunnery, 1903 to 1905 and naval policy and strategy, on which White exchanged letters with Lord Fisher (1841-1920), Lord Charles Beresford (1848-1930) and Sir Percy Scott (1853-1924) On lower deck conditions the correspondence is largely with Lionel Yexley (1861-1933) and there are notes and letters on Ireland, emigration and eugenics. A number of original letters were removed by White but it was his practice to leave typed copies in their place; those of Lord Fisher come into this category.

Administrative / biographical background
By the end of the nineteenth century, White was well-known as an upholder of anti-German policies and an advocate of a strong navy, exerting his influence through articles in the Daily Express and a column in the Referee under his pseudonym 'Vanoc' He thus became involved in the naval policies of the day and was an active member of the British Navy League. For Herbrand Arthur, eleventh Duke of Bedford (1858-1940), he also acted as supplier of information and political agent.