The collection mainly consists of papers relating to Sir William Herschel (1738-1822) and his wife Mary Pitt Herschel, together with those relating to their son Sir John Frederick William Herschel (1792-1871). For more details, see the sub-collection level records. The main body of the Herschel papers is in the University of Texas Library and the Linda Hall Library, Kansas City.

Administrative / biographical background
See sub-collection level records.