The McKibbin family has lived in Lansing, Michigan since the early 1880s. The majority of the papers in this collection relate to the Joseph T. McKibbin family in the period 1900 to 1950. The members of this family are Joseph T. and Emma Augusta McKibbin and their children May, Grace, Jean, Frank, and Clifford.

Located under the heading "McKibbin Family" are correspondence dating from 1845 to 1900, tax receipts and legal documents dating from 1850 to 1900, and some materials with later dates. Included are a set of letters written by Clifford from 1910 to 1916 while he was employed by the U.S. Forest Service in the Southwest. Also included are letters from Harold Clark, Grace's son, who was a soldier stationed in the United States and France in 1917-1918, and a number of letters of correspondence sent to Emma McKibbin on the death of her daughter Jeannie in 1897.

May McKibbin was a primary school teacher and principal of Logan School in Lansing for over thirty years. Her papers include correspondence, employment records, pamphlets, and booklets relating to teaching. Other items include a diary of her vacation in Europe (1924), notes and drawings concerning Ingham County, Michigan, and a newspaper listing Lansing city ordinances.

Clifford Worden McKibbin received his B.S. degree in forestry (1911) and his Master of forestry degree (1916) from Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University). While at M.A.C. he was a member of the Eclectic Society, the Forestry Club, and was advertising manager for the 1910 Wolverine, class treasurer in 1909, and class president in 1910. Later he was active in the Alumni Association and the construction of the Student Union. His scrapbook includes material from his earlier days as a student at Lansing High School, but primarily portrays student life at M.A.C. It contains programs, invitations, newspaper clippings, menus, letters, ribbons, and athletic schedules. Although Clifford was a realtor in Lansing for over 40 years, his papers consist mostly of class notes and materials concerning his work with the U.S. Forest Service (1910-1916) and the Civilian Conservation Corps (1933). In addition there are real estate sales reports and various items relating to talks which he gave on the Zuni Indians, forests of Michigan, and transportation systems in urban areas.

Clifford McKibbin married Ruth Mead, of Detroit, Michigan in 1913. Ruth Mead also attended M.A.C., receiving her B.S. in home economics in 1912. She was a member of the Feronian Society, the J-Hop Music and Dance Committee, and was Society Editor of the 1911 Wolverine. Her papers consist of a scrapbook, class notes, a cookbook, and pamphlets concerning food and nutrition. The scrapbook depicts student life at M.A.C. and includes programs, invitations, ribbons, menus, photographs, post cards, newspaper clippings, and report cards.

The papers of Emma Augusta McKibbin include household receipts and materials relating to organizations, including the South Lansing Women's Club.

There is also a term paper relating to Ingham County history by Davidson McKibbin, Frank's son.