The First Around-the-World Flight Collection is primarily comprised of reproduction photographs, negatives, and clippings that document the 1924 around-the-world flight flown by Douglas World Cruisers. There is also a small amount of commemorative materials, most of which focuses on the 50th anniversary of the event in 1974. The collection is arranged in two series; 1924 flight materials and commemorative materials. It is likely these items were collected by a former Museum of Flight curator and meant to be part of a retrospective exhibit or display, possibly in support of the 50th anniversary of the flight in 1974.

The first series is divided into three subseries: Mounted photographs, Assorted photographs, and Textual materials. The Mounted photographs subseries contains 61 7x9-inch black-and-white photographs mounted on 10x13-inch matboard. The subseries is arranged chronologically following the 1924 flight path. The photographs are later reprints and not vintage prints. The images mostly depict the Douglas World Cruisers, both in flight and on the ground as well as the fliers. Also depicted are some of the locations visited by the fliers and assorted persons, such as dignitaries, military personnel, and the public. Many include typed captions affixed below the print.

The Assorted Photographs subseries contains 131 prints gathered from other institutions and donors. The materials have been arranged alphabetically by source with materials from unknown sources grouped at the end of the series. As with the mounted photographs, images largely depict the Douglas World Cruisers, both in flight and on the ground as well as the fliers. Also depicted are some of the locations that were visited and various people associated with the event, such as dignitaries, military personnel, and the public. Of note in this section are the only vintage prints in the collection, including 18 prints donated by author Ernest K. Gann and, from within the Tom Croson file, a stereograph that depicts the fliers. Also notable are 55 negatives which show flight charts used by the around-the-world fliers. Sizes of the prints in this subseries vary but range from 3x5 inches to 8x10 inches. Some prints include brief captions. Duplication occurs.

The third subseries, Textual materials, consists of photocopies, with no original documents. Clippings make up the bulk of the section and are contemporaneous articles from local papers where the fliers stopped. There is also a copy of a certificate awarded to the fliers, the itinierary of the 1924 flight, and a small amount of photocopies of photographs. Many of the photocopies are of poor quality and several articles appear to be partial.

The second series is comprised of commemorative materials, primarily related to the 50th anniversary of the event in 1974. It includes correspondence from dignitaries of countries visited, clippings for anniversary celebrations, event planning notes, an invitation, and menu. Additionally, there is assorted ephemera celebrating the original flight, such as a label from a can of "Around the World" brand salmon and a 16x20-inch poster with a photographic reproduction of the "Chicago" with a small square of original fabric attached. A certificate of recognition from Washington State for the 100th anniversary of the event in 2024 and a small number of retrospective clippings from 1954-1957 are also present.