The photographic material in the Francis Harper collection was more fully processed by Spencer staff in 2021-2022. Staff separated different formats--glass-based media, flexible negatives, slides, and paper prints--in order to better aid their housing and long-term preservation. In doing so, staff kept original order of the materials as much as possible. This may mean that what was once Box 1 or box 1a has now become several different boxes, e.g. box 1A through 1I.

Whenever possible, Harper's descriptions of images have been included in this finding aid. He frequently numbered his images; these numbers frequently correspond to his field notes and journals. At times, items were removed from boxes or envelopes that had a general description, e.g. "Mammals" or "Mount Katahdin," and this information has been included in folder titles or notes in the finding aid mostly when no other identifying information was provided by Harper. When no description was provided by Harper or when staff found it difficult to decipher his handwriting, item descriptions are [in brackets].

Terms and language used is representative of when the images were created and has not been replicated in this finding aid except when discussing place names or official titles. When Indigenous peoples have been described in the collection, staff have used "Inuit" or "First Nations" terminology for Harper's travels in Canada and "Native Americans" for Harper's travels in the United States unless specific tribal affiliations were provided by Harper.