This collection consists of a variety of materials related to James P. Kimball's life and work around the turn of the 20th century, primarily in the American West, and particularly his involvement in mining, railroads, and geological surveys. There are also some materials related to his opposition to forest reserves around Yellowstone National Park, and his work in Northern Mexico and in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Materials include photographs, personal and business correspondence from throughout Kimball's career, geological reports, published writings by Kimball and others, official documents, news clippings, hand-drawn maps, and ephemera.

Many of the materials in the collection were originally kept in a scrapbook that was disassembled prior to the collection's acquisition. Materials that were still together were maintained as such.