The William Hutton Papers relate primarily to geology and botany, and there is also much on the Newcastle Natural History Society, of which Hutton was the secretary. There is much correspondence with Alexandre Brongniart, H. S. Davis, John S. Henslow, John Lindley, David Milne, Roderick I. Murchison, George Steuart MacKenzie, and John Phillips.

These notebooks contain lectures or reports on lectures, with corresponding watercolor and pen-and-ink drawings. There are volumes on geology (Great Britain and elsewhere), natural history, mechanics (sketches of levers, valves, and weighing machines), and steam engines (sketches of mechanics of boilers).

These are letters written from America, to Murchison, discussing geology, natural history, and contemporary topics.

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.

From negative microfilm held by Dr. Leonard G. Wilson, the collection consists mostly of incoming correspondence from English and American scientists, with a small section of correspondence from Lyell.

This collection includes letters from, and drafts of letters to, scientists, artists, musicians, soldiers, political figures, and court personages throughout Europe, especially Italy and France. Topics covered range from personal and social affairs to agriculture, botany, geology, natural history, coinage, museum management, politics, weights and measures, current affairs. The collection also includes four diaries, housed separately with manuscript volumes.

There is correspondence concerning geology, botany, natural history, natural selection, evolution, British science and scientists, and other scientific topics. Most of the letters are written by Lyell, with a very few items by others.