Gunsmith by trade, conchologist by avocation, Tryon's connections with the Academy extended from 1859-76, during which time he was a curator, secretary of the Board of the Building Fund, founder of the Conchological Section and editor of the American Journal of Conchology and the Manual of Conchology. Deposited his collections and library in the Section, and set up a permanent trust fund towards its support.

These papers concern the erection of the fund through the sale of Academy library books in the fields of history, politics, literature and the fine arts. He engineered the auction with the understanding that the sum realized be divided between the library and the Conchological section. The collection consists of 6 letters and documents and annotations in the printed catalog of the auction, giving prices received for each book and the total amount netted, $1,293.58.