This half-pocket, half-magnetic photo album contains photographs of Gwendolyn Brooks and her family, along with some letters and envelopes. The album features a dark red paper cover with gold detailing and is protected by a plastic book jacket. It has a loose-leaf mechanical binding with laced boards, allowing it to open flat and accommodate additional leaves. The textblock includes eight leaves, consisting of paperboard leaves with plastic pockets and rubber cement adhesive leaves, secured with cardboard strips and staples. The album holds various black-and-white, color, silver gelatin, and Polaroid photographs, along with handwritten descriptions on the versos. Some photographs are too large for the pockets, causing overlap, and one has an intentional tear made by Brooks. Additional materials, including loose and matted photographs, letters, and envelopes, are also tucked into the album.

The album is overall in poor condition. The binding and most photographs are in good shape, but the textblock leaves have deteriorated, causing them to lose their ability to secure the photos. Poor-quality materials have contributed to fading and discoloration, putting the photographs at risk of being lost or displaced, limiting access to the album’s contents. The binding is in good condition with surface grime, while the plastic book jacket is dusty, yellowing, and worn. The plastic lacing straps are also yellowing and grimy, and the staples show rust. The textblock leaves are in poor condition, with plastic pockets and sheets slipping out, and some leaves are torn and grimy. The rubber cement adhesive on the last four leaves has browned, losing its tackiness. Most photographs are in good condition, though they face risks due to unstable leaves, including fading, color shifting, and adhesive residue that could damage overlapping images. Two silver gelatin photographs show slight undulation on the sides.