The photographs document birthday celebrations. Some include numbers, date stamps, and descriptive notes on the reverse. Identified individuals include Gavin Herbert (Allergan and Beckman Instruments board member), Michael Berns (Laser Lab, University of California, Irvine), and Don Bren.

Dr. Arnold O. Beckman (1900-2004) invented the first commercially successful electric pH meter in 1934 and thus began a long career manufacturing scientific and medical instruments with National Technical Laboratories, Arnold O. Beckman, Inc., and Beckman Instruments. After his retirement he devoted his life to philanthropy and specifically supporting scientific innovation.