The scrapbook measures 50.5cm x 33cm and comprises over 600 items attached to, inserted into envelopes or interleaved between, 215 pages, most of which are accompanied by an explanatory manuscript note by Dr C. C. Easterbrook. The contents of the scrapbook reflect many aspects of the hospital's history including the management and administration, staff and patients, as well as wider events. A large proportion relates to social and recreational activities including theatricals, concerts, entertainments and sports engaged in and attended by by both staff and patients. The material comprises programmes for entertainment at Crichton Royal Institution including theatrical performances, concerts, dances, balls, lectures, sports days, tableaux vivant shows, horticultural shows and local events; tickets for lectures and entertainments both at Crichton Royal Institution and local events such as Burns Club dinners; official forms and administrative material; items personal to Dr C. C. Easterbrook including his letter of resignation; a catalogue of the Crichton Library compiled c.1853; staff rules and regulations; legislation and material relating to the Boards of Trustees and Directors; and newspaper cuttings and extracts about the hospital, staff and associated people, adverts and reviews for theatre, entertainment and sports at the hospital and local and national events.
These items have been arranged in the scrapbook chronologically with a page or a few pages per year. The last fifty pages of the volume comprise photographs, which again have been arranged chronologically, of each Physician Superintendent, from Dr W. A. F. Browne to Dr C. C. Easterbrook, and the buildings and ground works that took place at the hospital during each of their periods in charge, accompanied by extensive manuscript notes. These are followed by photographs of people who were associated with the hospital including Members of the Boards of Trustees and Directors.
An itemised list of the contents is available for consultation in the Archive search room at the Ewart Library.