The `Abbas Hilmi II Papers consist mainly of the official and personal correspondence of the last Khedive of Egypt, from the period of his khedivate, 1892-1914 as well as his life in exile from 1914 to 1944. The official letters cover political,social and economic affairs in Egypt, the British in Egypt and, to a lesser extent, the Sudan, Egypt's relations with Britain, Turkey and the rest of Europe, the Khedive's relations with other royalty and his conflicts with the Britishadministrators. After his deposition, the papers reflect his involvement with the Egyptian nationalist movement and his continued interest in Egyptian and European affairs.
Files relating to `Abbas Hilmi II's estates, property, palaces, business interests and investments illustrate his endeavours to improve his estates and, during his exile, his attempts to recover his sequestered property. His personal filescontain letters from a wide circle of family and friends, from those in diplomatic circles, representatives of the churches, and authors. In addition to personal matters, they cover khedival patronage and his European travels.
The collection also includes negatives of photographs still in the possession of the Mohamed Ali Foundation, several albums of photographs, approximately 223 pamphlets, 2 maps, and 199 printed volumes.
Appended to the collection are copies of the letters of Ibrahim Pasha (1789-1848), eldest son of Muhammad Ali Pasha, viceroy of Egypt. The letters relate to his military campaigns in Syria in the 1830s and 1840s.