Andrew Carnegie with unidentified group, inscribed "Hand in Hand for Peace", 1907

The James Bertram Collection is housed in eight archival boxes and is arranged in seven series. Series have been designated for materials relating to the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Andrew Carnegie, Mr. Bertram's Personal Life, Dr. Frank Pierce Hill, Audiovisual, Publications, and Three Dimensional Artifacts and Artwork. The collection includes correspondence, photographs (prints and negatives), newspaper clippings, bound volumes, annual reports, pamphlets, and other sundry items.

The Collection relates primarily to Mr. Bertram's life while Secretary of the Carnegie Corporation of New York (1911-1934) with the bulk of the material from 1926-1935. The Collection is mostly correspondence regarding Mr. Bertram's duties at the Carnegie Corporation, including correspondence between Mr. Carnegie and Mr. Bertram, correspondence with libraries regarding Carnegie funds, correspondence with the Carnegie Institution of Washington and other similar Institutions, and other organizations regarding libraries and books in general. Also prominent in the collection is material relating to Mr. Bertram's personal life, including correspondence with Mrs. Carnegie and evidence of his travels abroad.

For some of the material it was difficult to determine if the item related to Mr. Bertram's duties for Mr. Carnegie and the Carnegie Corporation or with his personal life. There may be overlap among the correspondence in these two series. It was also difficult to determine if the photographs were taken for business or personal reasons.