This series consists of cartes de visite, cabinet cards, cyanotypes, tintypes, and photographic paper prints of Clarke family members and friends, unidentified individuals and groups, libraries and other buildings, and city and rural views. Many of the city and rural views and buildings are in Kansas, particularly Lawrence and surrounding environs; others are identified as being in different states, including Minnesota, Arkansas, Missouri, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Oklohoma, etc.

Photographers are noted when possible; the photos have not been physically organized in any particular fashion but have been intellectually and loosely grouped into Portraits and other photographs involving people; Lawrence, KS and the University of Kansas; Libraries; and Travel-related and other miscellaneous images. If information was annotated on the photograph, it has occasionally been noted in the finding aid. The bulk of the photographs date from the 1880s-1910s; many are undated.