Letters document several generations of the Henkel family of Virginia, four members of which were physicians, three of whom participated in the Civil War.

Lectures and speeches (1840-53) delivered by Joseph Roby in Hanover, NH and in Baltimore, MD on a variety of medical subjects.

Dr. William Bean was a well-known medical historian and teacher associated with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and the Cincinnati General Hospital, 1936-1948, University of Iowa College of Medicine (1948-1970), and the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (1974-1980). The papers relate to Dr. Bean's work and interests as author, teacher, editor, and medical historian.

Dr. Middleton was Dean of the University of Wisconsin Medical School, 1935-55; Chief Consultant in medicine to the European Theater of Operations, 1942-45; Special Advisor to the Surgeon General of the Army during the Korean conflict; and, Chief Medical Officer of the Veterans Administration, 1955-63.