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.

This collection of Robert Patterson family papers is composed primarily of the letters of Robert Maskell Patterson (1787-1854, APS 1809), but includes some of the business and personal papers of his father, Robert Patterson (1743-1824, APS 1783), and a series of letters written from Europe in 1855 by Helen Patterson Robins (1825-1919).