This series comprises annotated copies of Tindale's 'Map Showing the Distribution of the Aboriginal Tribes of Australia', published in 'Results of the Harvard-Adelaide Universities Anthropological Expedition, 1938-1939, Distribution of Australian Aboriginal Tribes: A Field Survey' (in Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia, 64(1), 1940). (See also series AA 338/1/15 'Harvard and Adelaide Universities Anthropological Expedition, Australia, 1938-1939. Journal and notes by Norman B. Tindale.')

Beginning in the 1920s, Tindale set out to prove that Aboriginal groups did relate to territorially distinct regions that could be successfully mapped. Based upon expedition data, field work among Aboriginal people and published and unpublished data obtained by other researchers, the map is a precursor to Tindale's 1974 Tribal Boundaries in Aboriginal Australia (see series AA 338/19).

'Tribal' names, geographical features, major cities, states and references to archaeological sites are printed in black. 'Defined' and 'approximate Tribal Boundaries' and 'limits of distribution of rite of circumcision' and 'sub-incision' are printed in green. An inset at bottom right includes the state of Tasmania. Other information includes 'Notes regarding phonetic symbols employed: these Tribal Names are written in the Alphabet of the International Phonetic Association as adapted to Australian Languages by a Committee at the University of Adelaide 1930-31.' Scale: 1 inch = 100 miles or 16 mm = 100 km (approximate).

Tindale's annotations include additions and corrections to boundaries and Aboriginal place names. Only one map includes the date of annotation (1952).