The Marquis McDonald Papers contain only photographic materials created during the 1949-1950 trip through Baja California, many of which were published in BAJA: LAND OF LOST MISSIONS (1968). They are principally of mission buildings in various formats of 2 1/4 black and white print, 2 1/4 ektachrome color slide, and 35mm kodachrome color slide. Most black and white negatives have corresponding prints.

Marquis McDonald often took the opportunity provided by overseas employment in places like Alaska, Afghanistan, Okinawa, and Saudia Arabia to travel and explore interesting places. After working in Saudia Arabia for several years following World War II, McDonald settled in Visalia, California, and took the time to pursue his interest in Baja California. Together with Glenn Oster, an acquaintance from Saudia Arabia, McDonald planned and executed an overland trip down the length of the Baja California peninsula from the autumn of 1949 through the late spring of 1950.