The Plimpton Family Papers is primarily comprised of correspondence, personal and professional documents, writings and photographs generated by or for George Arthur Plimpton and Frances Taylor Pearsons Plimpton, their son, Francis T.P. Plimpton, and his wife Pauline Ames Plimpton. Also included are documents and photographs produced by or for other Plimpton, Pearsons and Ames family members, from seventeenth century ancestors to late-twentieth century descendants.

Correspondence, documents and manuscripts from late seventeenth and eighteenth century France, especially from the French Revolution, collected by Sam Schaefler. Authors include J.B. Colbert Torcy and the Duchesse Du Lude. Many of the items from the French Revolution represent the work of the Committee of Public Safety and the Committee of General Security. French Revolutionary leaders represented in the collection include François-Antoine Boissy D'Anglas, Jean-Baptiste-Noel Bouchotte, Pierre Joseph Cambon, Lazare Carnot, Jean-Marie Collot D'Herbois, l'Abbʹe de Fauchet, Philippe-Antoine Merlin de Douai, Jean Victor Moreau. C.A. Prieur-Duvernois, and Antoine Joseph Santerre. In addition, the collection includes a letter from the Danish physicist Hans Christian Oersted to Sir John Herschel, a letter by the French poet Romain Rolland, a document of the Philadelphia Artists' Fund Society of 1846 with signatures of its officers, and an autograph letter and a photograph of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

The surviving files of official correspondence, reports, documents, and printed materials of King's College from 1750 to 1784 and Columbia College from 1785 to 1890, as well as Columbia University up to 1964. The King's College era materials include grants, deeds, indentures, lists of governors, leases, accounts, etc. The Columbia College era papers commence with documentation regarding the attempts to revive the college at the end of the American Revolution. In the later period these papers primarily supplement and document the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Governors and the Board of Trustees. Much material was destroyed and scattered in the late 19th century leaving this collection quite incomplete.

Letters written to Gay from political and literary contemporaries such as Horace Greeley, Charles Sumner, and William Bryant; reports in letter form from his reporters at the front during the Civil War; and personal correspondence including many letters from his wife, Elizabeth Neall Gay. Letters written to Mrs. Gay from family friends and business associates including many from her husband. Correspondence of other members of the Gay family including Walter Gay, Sarah Gay, and Allan Gay. Diaries, notebooks, and journals of Sydney Howard Gay.

The collection consists primarily of correspondence and subject files, but also includes manuscripts, documents, photographs and printed materials. The correspondence spans six decades and includes letters received by Prince Paul prior to his accession, during his tenure as regent, and during 35 years of exile. Correspondents include Prince Paul's family; European politicians, such as Edvard Beneš, Neville Chamberlain, Anthony Eden, and Benito Mussolini; European royalty, including King Albert of Belgium, King Carol II of Rumania, Queen Elizabeth II, King George VI, and King Edward VIII of England; Yugoslav public figures, such as Milan Stojadinoviʹc, Dragiša Cvetkoviʹc, and Anton Korošec. Subject files pertain to the reign of Prince Paul. These materials -- correspondence, minutes of meetings, military regulations, speeches, consular and foreign legation reports, police reports, voting records, government decrees, et cetera -- were assembled by J. B. Hoptner while researching his book, "Yugoslavia in Crisis, 1934-1941" (1962). Among the manuscripts are Prince Paul's and Princess Olga's diaries and Prince Paul's notes on conversations with Hermann Göring, Hitler, Mussolini, and Eden. Also included are historical documents concerning Serbian and Yugoslav history and the Karageorgevich family; documents from the 18th and 19th centuries, such as a copy of the 1808 agreement between Kara George and the Serbian National Council.

Twenty four volumes of the public papers and letter books of DeWitt Clinton. Volumes 1-15 contain letters written to DeWitt Clinton, 1785-1828. They are mounted with an average of 65 letters to a volume, or approximately 975 in all. Volumes 16-23 are letter books covering the years 1793-1828 and average 300 pages to the volume. Volume 24 contains miscellaneous papers, speeches, poems, and the like in various hands.

Materials related to the Maine-Canada boundary controvery: over 400 letters, documents, reports, map, manuscript corrected proof of the Secretary of State's printed report to Congress, manuscript history of the controversy (published), lengthy analysis of the King of the Netherland's Decision as arbiter, as well as supporting material showing the life of a diplomat of the period in Europe.

Papers of the American author, Peekskill civic leader and Methodist Church activist. Collection contains personal and business papers, correspondence, manuscripts, diaries, family material, and clippings.

Personal and professional correspondence, including 25 long letters from Professor Henry F. Herbig; manuscripts (mainly speeches); specifications for patents in electrical fields; technical and personal photographs; and memorabilia. Included is a copy of the famous "shot in hand" x-ray photograph, ca. 1896, one of the first ever to be taken. This collection also contains the correspondence, manuscripts, documents, and memorabilia of Professor Pupin's daughter, Varvara Smith, and his son-in-law, Louis Graham Smith. His daughter's letters and documents deal with her financial difficulties, her administration of Pupin's estate and her claims against Columbia University. Louis G. Smith's letters deal with his anti-Communist sentiments and his manuscripts are mainly ideas for popular songs and plays. There are three letters (photostatic copies) to Smith from Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The materials that comprise the Historical Biographical Files have been collected and added to from a variety of sources over the years by current and previous staff. The files consist of materials related to people who have a connection to the University whether as student, alumni, administrator, faculty, staff, guest lecturer, or honorary degree recipient. Materials generally consist of newspaper and magazine clippings, press releases, programs, ephemera, printed matter, lists, reports, and pamphlets.