The handwritten document was an explanatory memo by John Evershed, signed in 1918. A. A. Narayana Ayyar was the 3rd Assistant of the Solar Physics Observatory, Kodaikanal, from 1913 to 1918. During that period, he also served as the 2nd Assistant of the Observatory for more than one year. The memo was about the approval of the allowance provided to A. A. Narayana Ayyar for the service as 2nd Assistant. The exact dates during which he acted as the 2nd Assistant of the Observatory are also mentioned in the document.

The Office order is about granting leave to Thomas Royds for 15 days. The order was issued by E. D Maclagan, the Secretary of the Government of India, from Delhi in 1914. It is stated that copies of the order were sent to the directors of the Kodaikanal and Madras observatories as well as the director general of observatories.