This series includes a variety of material, including some early correspondence; rules and regulations; progress reports; scientific and technical papers; monographs about the history of the Ordnance Survey; catalogues; maps and plans; and published booklets, information leaflets and gazetteers. There are a number of papers of Major-General William Roy, FRS (1726-1790): originally of the Royal Engineers, he served as Deputy Quartermaster-General, Engineer in Ordinary and Surveyor-General of Coasts.