Herbert Baxter Adams (1850-1901) was an American educator and historian. The collection consists of material spanning 1851-1903. The materials include correspondence, lectures, writings, research material, files related to Johns Hopkins University, the United States Bureau of Education, the American Historical Association Committee of Seven, personal files, and prints and photos.

Ira Remsen, American chemist, educator and second President of Johns Hopkins University was born in New York City on February 10, 1846. The collection spans the years 1868 - 1938. The material consists of correspondence, speeches, publications, lectures and lecture notes, notebooks, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, photographs, reprints, books annotated by Remsen, and memorabilia.

Collection consists largely of correspondence and professional papers of American banker and diplomat, John Work Garrett. Included are items from Garrett's foreign service in Venezuela, Argentina, the Netherlands, and Italy. Other materials relate to political events, locally and internationally (1920-1940). Also in the collection is extensive personal correspondence of Garrett and his wife, Alice, which describes personal friendships, travels, entertainments, and cultural interests.