The c. 2100 prints in this series span the entire period which Charles Trotter spent working as a commercial photographer in Kenya. No evidence exists as to why these prints were created or retained, whether they were kept because they reflect some of Trotter's particular interests or whether they are simply all that remain of a larger set.
The boxes in which the prints were stored cover a defined set of themes, namely the maiden voyage of the SS Kenya, African people, aerial photos, scenery, Mt. Kilimanjaro, wild animals, dhows and views in the East African cities and countryside. There are a small number of more miscellaneous prints including images of motor racing, one of Trotter's passions. Many of the themes and assignments covered by Trotter and represented in his vast negative collection, including images of the White British community in Kenya, do not feature here. They are a particularly rich resource for images of the Kenyan countryside and animals, pre-independence Nairobi and royal visits.