Varnum Lansing Collins was a Princeton alum of the Class of 1893 and served as the University's Secretary from 1917 to 1936. Throughout his life Collins exhibited a special interest in Princeton's history and he authored a number of works relating to that theme. The Varnum Lansing Collins Papers consist primarily of materials generated by Collins while writing several of his most well-known works on Princeton history.

Consists of material gathered by historical writer Varnum Lansing Collins (Princeton Class of 1892) in preparation for his biography of American patriot Stephen Sayre (Princeton Class of 1757).

This collection chronicles the administrative responsibilities and activities of the vice presidents and secretaries of the University. Included are correspondence, memoranda, and notes concerning committee activities. Also included are press releases, discussions pertaining to trustee matters, scholarship information, and biographical files on honorary degree recipients.

The New Jersey Board of University Extension was proposed in 1915 by Princeton president John Grier Hibben to formulate a strategy for the coordination of the university extension programs of the various colleges in the New Jersey area. The records consist of organizational materials pertaining to the formation of the Board as well as plans and conference minutes. Also included are letters from conference invitees, indicating their intentions to attend.

The Historical Subject Files Collection documents Princeton University history and related topics from 1746 to the present. The collection consists of documents in almost every two-dimensional format: articles, books and booklets, clippings, correspondence, memoranda, non-photographic images, notes, pamphlets, posters, and reports.