Benjamin Silliman (1779-1864, APS 1805) was a scientist and educator. As a professor of chemistry at Yale University from 1802 to 1853, and pioneering teacher of chemistry, mineralogy and geology, Silliman was largely responsible for the conversion of Yale College to Yale University, with strong medical and scientific departments.

These papers include letters on natural history, metals and mineralogy, botany, insects, the geological survey of New York, and analyses of distilled liquors in the cause of temperance.

The largest portion of correspondence is with Charles Edwin Bessy on botanical matters, including botanical publications in the United States and Europe, and plants and shell specimens.

This is primarily a collection of letters, with some additional documents, concerning Young's interest in botany, geology, mineralogy, and natural history. There is information about Bowdoin College, where he studied under Parker Cleaveland. There is also much on the natural history of Maine, where he was the State Botanist in 1847-1849, and also on the Bangor Natural History Society. There are materials on Brazil in relation to Young's service there as the U.S. consul to Rio Grande do Sul from 1863 to 1873. There are also letters from his brother, John C. Young, and his sister, Sarah Augusta Young.