Principally correspondence, with some printed material, clippings, specimen lists, resolutions, and miscellany. The papers, chiefly 1838-1894, relate mainly to Gibbes' career as professor of mathematics, physics, and astronomy at the College of Charleston (S.C.). and include his correspondence with other scientists relating to astronomy, physics, geology, meteorology, chemistry, botany and zoology. Other subject relate to the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Smithsonian Institution. Correspondents include Stephen Alexander, Alexander D. Bache, Jacob Whitman Bailey, E. R. Beadle, Amos Binney, Langdon Cheves, Thomas Cooper, James Dwight Dana, James D. B. DeBow, Henry William DeSaussure, Charles Ellet, Elizabeth Fries Lummis Ellet, James Espy, Alex M. Forster, Benjamin Apthorp Gould, Asa Gray, Samuel S. Haldeman, Joseph Henry, Edward C. Herrick, John Lawrence LeConte, Joseph LeConte, Elias Loomis, Joseph Lovering, G. E. Manigault, Francis Markoe, Matthew F. Maury, C. G. Memminger, Robert Treat Paine, James L. Petigru, C. C. Pinckney, William C. Redfield, E. S. Ritchie, John D. Runkle, Jared Sparks, William Stimpson, David Humphreys Storer, William Henry Trescot, Michael Tuomey, Joseph Winlock, and William Wurdemann. An addendum to the collection contains correspondence of James McBride (1784-1817), botanist of South Carolina, including letters from Thomas Smith Grimke and John C. Calhoun, the latter discussing materials relating to the War of 1812.