Series consists of duplicates of official records and personal files created by Smith on his Commonwealth activities.
In keeping with his previous External Affairs practice, Smith kept a "diary" of correspondence sent (vol. 1-19). About October 1966 these files were enlarged to include irregular diary entries dictated by Smith, memoranda on Smith's meetings with heads and senior officials of the Commonwealth, copies of speeches and addresses, circular letters from the Secretary-General's office, reports by the Secretariat on educational, legal, medical, economic, technical and political questions, memoranda prepared for Smith on current issues, arrangements for Commonwealth meetings, clippings; copies of some original correspondence from Commonwealth Heads and senior officials, as well as agenda notations outlining Smith's appointments and activities.
When these diaries were later duplicated, material was added from other sources; it is appendixed here as "Diary - Supplementary Material" (vols. 104-106, 108). Subject indexes to the diaries are found in volume 107.
Series also includes a separate set of files documents special initiatives by the Secretary-General (vols. 32, 67-71). This includes material about major issues such as Rhodesia and southern Africa, peace talks during the Nigerian Civil War, the independence of Bangladesh, and the Pearson Commission.
Series also includes printed conference reports from Secretariat sponsored meetings, usually containing verbatum reports, copies of briefs, and supporting documentation (vol. 20-29). It also contains clippings organized by subject, with radio interview and news service transcripts, magazine and periodical articles, telegrammes, newsletters, press releases and communiqués (vols. 34-35, 41-65).
Series contain other files of the Secretary-General contain briefing documents for Smith's visits to Commonwealth countries and the United States (vols. 29-30), his appointment books noting business and personal activities, including cancellations (vols. 33-34, 106-107), speeches with related material and an index (vols. 31-32, 37-39, 72-74, 115), and personal papers including correspondence, Christmas cards lists and Evelyn Smith's social notes and guest books (vols. 31-32, 35, 74-79, 109-110, 115).
