The series consists of appointments, scrapbooks, flying log books, diaries, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) weekly intelligence summaries and RCAF monthly summaries of activities, photographs and albums, correspondence, and clippings.
The series includes records dating from the First World War and the inter-war period including: a small quantity of service records, clippings and memorabilia from the Toronto Flying Club, flying log books dating from the 1930s to the 1950s that detail Curtis's flying experience, the work of the RCAF Auxiliary, and later Curtis's flights during the war and as Chief of Air Staff.
The series also includes records dating from the Second World War including: newspaper clippings, publications and memos from 1940 to 1943 during Curtis's time in Ottawa and Overseas, and diary/appointment books dating from 1942 and 1943 that show the office routine and Curtis's movements as the Deputy to the Air Officer Commanding the RCAF Overseas. These records show the "business" and "public relations" work necessary to form and run the RCAF in Britain during the Second World War and Curtis's contribution to the success experienced by the RCAF. The series also includes RCAF weekly intelligence summaries from 1942 and 1943, and monthly summaries of activities for RCAF 6 Group from August 1944 to March 1945.
The series includes records from the post-war period including: programmes from the first graduation ceremony of navigators of countries of NATO on 4 May 1951 and the RCAF dedication of Curtis Hall at the RCAF Staff College (today, the Canadian Forces College, the cornerstone in the development of the Canadian Forces' senior officer cadre) on 2 May 1952. There is a small amount of correspondence and clippings from Curtis's time as Chief of Air Staff, and newspaper clippings and publications related to his RCAF activities following his retirement in 1953, including the 50th anniversary reunion of the RCAF in 1974.
The series includes a large number of photographs, mostly official RCAF photos that document Curtis's activities between 1947 and 1953 as Chief of Air Staff. Photos in albums are usually not identified, but most individual photos include caption details. The series includes several albums documenting his years as Chief of Air Staff, and a substantial number of official portraits of Curtis and other RCAF Senior Officers including: Air Vice-Marshal G.M. Croil, Air Marshal R. Leckie, Air Vice-Marshal C.R. Slemon, Air Vice-Marshal H.L. Campbell, Air Chief Marshal L.S. Breadner, Air Vice-Marshal A.L. James, Air Vice-Marshal J.L. Plant, Air Vice-Marshal C.R. Dunlap, Air Vice-Marshal F.R. Miller, Air Vice-Marshal D.M. Smith, Air Vice-Marshal F.G. Wait, Air Vice-Marshal H.B. Godwin and many others. There are also official photographs from the 23 February 1959 re-creation of the Silver Dart and the first powered flight in Canada at Baddeck Bay, Nova Scotia.
