Mansel Dean (1914- ) was born in the Paton Memorial Hospital, Port Vila, Vanuatu, the daughter of David and Winifred Griffiths. She spent her childhood on her parents' plantation at Lenakel, Tanna, where they also owned the store. Her family later moved to Norfolk Island where they owned a banana plantation.

The contents include:

• Mansel Dean's notes on her childhood years on Tanna, including references to local customs and her family life;
• a photograph of her parents taken on Tanna;
• copies of the birth certificates of herself and her sister Mary Winifred (the first white baby to be born on Tanna);
• a letter written by her mother about Christmas on Tanna.

Repeated attacks of malaria resulted in the sale of the Tanna copra plantation to Burns Philp. Shortly after their arrival on Norfolk Island a disease decimated the banana palms.