This collection consists of materials relating to Frank Peabody's time as a student at Michigan State College, as well as his career as a professor at Michigan State University. Included are correspondence, photographs, newspapers, course materials, publications, and materials from the Summer Institute in Biology.

The Herbert Baer papers consist of letters Baer sent to his family during his freshman year at Michigan State College (now Michigan State University). In the letters he writes about his activities, events attended, his student job in the kitchen and a little bit about his classes. He also writes a little bit about World War II and mentions rationing.