The papers of Evelyn Briggs Baldwin (1862-1933) span the period 1649-1933, with the bulk of the manuscripts dealing with the Wellman and Baldwin-Ziegler polar expeditions. The collection is organized into four series: General Correspondence, Polar Expedition Records, Miscellany, and Genealogy.

The General Correspondence consists mainly of letters saved by Baldwin reflecting his Arctic contributions, in particular during the Baldwin-Ziegler expedition. There is little personal correspondence. Early correspondence concerns his meteorological work in Mobile, Alabama, and elsewhere, the balloon experiments of his Baldwin cousins, the Robert E. Peary Arctic expedition, and the Wellman Polar Expedition, which includes letters written to Baldwin during his time in Franz Josef Land.

From 1899 to 1901 the correspondence reflects Baldwin's attempts to raise money for a North Pole voyage, his lecture tours, his backing by William Ziegler, and preparations for the trip. There are exchanges between Baldwin and suppliers, applicants, well-wishers, and officials, such as John C. Higgins of the United States Consulate in Dundee, Scotland. Comparatively little deals with Baldwin's recall by Ziegler after he had spent a year in Franz Josef Land and failed to reach the North Pole. Correspondence following up the expedition is also minimal, although there are some letters from various expedition members, such as Christopher Thuesson, Ernest De Koven Leffingwell, and Archibald A.C. Dickson.

Toward the end of his life, Baldwin made efforts to obtain financial remuneration from the United States government for his scientific and patriotic contributions. He obtained affidavits from acquaintances and prepared exhibits on his involvement in aeronautics, motion pictures, meteorology, and the detection of three German agents during World War I; these have been included with the General Correspondence.

Among the Polar Expedition Records are detailed journals of the Wellman expedition, Leffingwell's correspondence preparing for the Baldwin-Ziegler expedition, and notes and parts of journals of Baldwin and others for that voyage. There are also financial records containing lists of supplies, receipts, and miscellaneous notations. Baldwin at first supported Cook's claim for discovering the North Pole, and the series contains typed chapters for an unfinished book.

The Miscellany mainly contains newspaper clippings dealing with Baldwin's polar interests. There are also personal addresses, mimeographed circulars urging the formation of the National Archives, and publications on the Arctic and other subjects.

Baldwin did extensive work on Genealogy, some of it published, on various families related to him. His papers contain typescripts for the Alden, Baldwin, Ford, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Woodruff families, as well as for Revolutionary War pensioners. Excerpts of early English Chancery Court proceedings on the Baldwins are included with these records as well.