The collection consists of over 800 letters and a few postcards from Jan Hendrik Scheltema sent home to his father, Nicolaas Scheltema, and to one of his older sister's, Anna Scheltema, in Holland. Most of the letters are addressed from Australia but some are sent from other countries where Scheltema briefly worked. The correspondence often includes pencil sketches by Scheltema himself and newspaper cuttings of articles relating to social life and events in Victoria, Australia. The collection also contains letters written to Anna Scheltema from Edith Scheltema (née Smith) and Nicholas Scheltema (J. H. Scheltema's wife and son). The letters provide detailed descriptions of life in Australia from 1888 to1940 and information about Scheltema's working life, connections as an artist, and his broader interests. There are also photographs of Edith Scheltema and her son Nicholas, a photograph of J. H. Scheltema with his cat, and assorted photographs of the Scheltema family. The collection also includes a folded sketchbook and a handmade "Atlas" belonging to J. H. Scheltema; a copy of his parents' marriage certificate, 1850; and a copy of an extract of the death entry for J. H. Scheltema, 1973. In additional to the letters sent by Scheltema, there is a group of 15 letters that consist of family correspondence by or to members of the Scheltema family, circa 1868-1894, discussing the artist and his work; and an original drawing by J. H. Scheltema (circa 1871). Alongside the original manuscript material, the collection contains digital content, which includes scans of typescript transcripts of letters transcribed by Dr Casimir Jeekel, also translations of the transcripts by Peter Reynders including extensive biographical details, footnotes, and images of Scheltema, as well as transcript and translation of an illustration of a knife sharpening machine designed by Scheltema circa 1871.