The Catton family papers consist mainly of travel letters, diaries, and scrapbooks kept by Margaret Mary Louise Catton (1882-1971), a medical social worker in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Robert and Brereton Catton left their native Scotland and arrived in Hawaii in 1878. They had six children: Margaret Mary Louise (known as "Mary"), Janet Renny (known as "Renny"), John Herbert, Robert Redford, Andrew Allen, and Richard Belmont. Mary, who is the chief figure in this collection, was born February 9, 1882, in Huelo, Maui. She was educated at Punahou School as well as other private schools in Hawaii and Scotland. In 1917, she entered the New York School of Social Work, where she majored in hospital social service. She graduated in 1919 and returned to Hawaii. In 1932, Mary became the director of the Medical Social Service Association, the new social service program she helped found at Queen's Hospital in Honolulu. Mary also helped start several other groups and organizations including the Hawaii Medical Service Association, the first voluntary prepaid plan for medical care in the United States; the Bureau of Mental Hygiene at Queen's Hospital; and the convalescent nursing home at Maunalani Heights. Mary retired as director of social service at Queen's Hospital in 1948, and in 1959, she published a semi-autobiographical book entitled Social Service in Hawaii. She stayed active in the Honolulu community until her death in 1971 at the age of 89.

Approximately 700 items in 14 boxes

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