This is primarily a collection of letters and manuscripts sent to Wistar by prominent men who were among his many correspondents. These documents reflect his broad interests, including botany, paleontology, medicine, the American Philosophical Society, and André Michaux's plans for exploring the Missouri.

Nine of these letters are addressed to Sir Alexander Dick of Edinburgh (1763-1768), and relate to Morgan's medical studies, his travels on the Continent, and the founding of the medical department of the College of Physicians. These are copies of originals in possession of Mrs. Dick Cunyngham, Prestonfield House, Edinburgh. In addition there are letters from Morgan to: Petrus Camper, William Smith, Samuel Vaughan, Jr.; and from Peter Collinson to Camper; Camper to Morgan; S. Vaughan Jr. to Camper; and an exchange between Christian F. Michaelis and Camper. These concern Morgan, with mentions of fossils (mastodon bones in America), natural history, comments on Franklin, Jefferson, and Angelica Kauffmann. These are from originals in the Petrus Camper Papers, on deposit (1976) at the University of Amsterdam Library.

This item is a daily record of professional visits and prescriptions. Some of Shippen's patients were eminent Philadelphians and visitors to the city.