Hodgson used much of his time in both Nepal and Darjeeling in research, wanting to discover and understand about the architecture, languages, ethnography, religion, zoology and botany. He collected specimens and manuscripts, and had many drawings made, which he donated to many collections throughout Europe. He was also politically involved during his Residency in Nepal, and also later in England, when he continued to show an active interest in the Indian subcontinent, particularly regarding trade and vernacular education. These Personal Papers reflect these interests and are a record of much of his activity - Hodgson and his wives seemed to have a need to record all his successes. He was also a keen annotator of material, so that most of the printed material also bears his handwritten comments.

Hodgson kept many newspaper cuttings both about his own life and about the subjects in which he was interested. Though some of these are located with other material, such as in the Autograph book (BHH/1), there are 119 loose cuttings within his Papers.

A series of manuscripts in which Hodgson explores some of his interests concerning the Indian sub-continent.

"Commerce with the countries north of India". A paper written in reply to one given at the Society of Arts by Sir Douglas Forsyth on the possibilities of commerce with Sikkim, Nepal and Tibet, in which Hodgson points out his previous attempts to raise this issue and his opinions on the subject. Handwritten, 2 pieces, 7 sides, undated [1877, see BHH/5/41/1].