The collection consists of correspondence (personal and about book and articles published); outline of courses taught at the University of Rochester; subjects of interests; and some of his published articles and speeches.

The papers consist mainly of maps and reports related to Professor Gavett's tour of duty in France with the Engineering Corp during World War I.

The collection consists of correspondence written by Raymond Dexter Havens from France to family and friends while he was engaged as a Y.M.C.A. volunteer, 1917-1919, letters written to Raymond Dexter Havens from Cecilia Beaux (1863-1942), American painter, and letters from other scholars to Raymond Dexter Havens. There is also a collection of classroom registers from his English classes at the University of Rochester, 1909-1925.