The collection consists of Gray Herbarium correspondence from the 1890s to present day but the bulk of the letters are from 1890-1955. Most of the letters are addressed to staff members of the Gray Herbarium and were transferred to the archives from office files. Some letters were gifts to the Gray Herbarium that were interfiled into the collection.
The letters are from amateur and professional botanists, collectors, prospective students, suppliers, Harvard administration, members of the Visiting Committee, donors, and the general public. Topics include botanical issues such as controversies about botanical nomenclature, routine acknowledgements of specimen loans, identifications of specimens, and general Gray Herbarium business. While many of the letters are somewhat routine in nature, some of the letters provide insight into the lives of well known botanists as well as larger historical events.
