The collection covers the period 1962 to 1976, when John Duffield was a Patrol Officer, Political Education Officer and District Government Liaison Officer with the Australian Public Service in Papua New Guinea. Included are Field Officer Journals from 1972 to 1976; several Patrol Reports and a very large collection of letters, circulars, reports, telegrams, ephemera, patrol instructions and comments on patrol reports; declarations of Local Government Council elections; as well as many personal records including his appointment as a Local Government advisor; an acceptance letter to ASOPA (the Australian School of Pacific Studies); his appointment letter as a Cadet Patrol Officer and appointment as a Magistrate for Native Matters. There are copies of the 'Black and White Magazine' and posters and ephemera relating to self-government and Independence. Rare publications include: the Western Highlands District Agricultural Society Mount Hagen Show Handbook for the Fourth District Show, dated 1967; Recipe book - 'Entertaining in Papua and New Guinea', published by the Boroko Branch of the Country Women's Association, 2nd Edition, 1968; and the Third South Pacific Games Souvenir Cookery Book, c.1969.

Of particular significance are booklets produced for the Independence celebrations in Port Moresby in 1975, including booklets on the 'State Welcome & Flag Lowering', 'Sport & Culture', 'Royal Tour', 'Guriguri Hebou', 'Bikpela Lotu, 'Flag Raising', 'Installation & Constitutional Ceremonies', 'State opening of the First National Parliament', 16 September 1975, 'Official Programme'.

The collection includes one album of photographs covering the period.