Much of the Newberry Library share of the Walter L. Newberry estate, transferred April 25, 1892, consisted of real property, leases, and sale contracts. The Library continued to buy, sell, improve, and rent properties (primarily in Chicago) into the mid 20th century, but by 1950, the Library had sold most of its real estate.

Series contains records documenting the Library's real estate transactions. Included are abstracts and examinations of title, building and construction files (Holabird & Root), purchase contracts and articles of agreement, leases, sales, property tax lists, rent registers, building repair registers, records of foreclosures, etc. Files also include blueprints of Newberry owned properties. Of particular interest are building and construction files for the Irving Apartment Building, 1893-1896, the Turner Brass Works, and the Lake Shore Drive Extension, 1892-1895.