MS 2821 comprises the records of the Commonwealth Council including correspondence files of the secretary, director, Research Committee chairman and treasurer, minutes and agenda, speeches of R.G. Casey and financial records. The records relate to the major functions of the Institute including administration of the Dyason and Roy Milne lecture series, the Reciprocal Exchange Programme, Foreign Affairs Club and the Research Programme; liaison with state branches, the Institute of Pacific Relations, Royal Institute of International Affairs and other bodies; and, production of Australian outlook and other publications. Some records of the Canberra and New South Wales Branches of the Institute are also contained in the collection (127 boxes, 6 cartons, 1 fol. box).