Collection consists of glass lantern slides, likely compiled as a teaching collection for Cornell's Civil Engineering classes. Many images are from central/upstate New York locations. Topics include: water filtration systems, diagrams and graphs, maps, septic tanks, imhoff tanks, sewage filtration beds, sewer construction, chlorine, and photographs of prominent civil engineers. Some of these topics include images and maps of cholera and typhoid infections.

Letters from Wilson in Lowell, Mass. to his father in Yorkshire, England, in which he describes his work in a carpet factory, encourages others to come to Lowell, and provides instructions. He describes his voyage to America and the cholera that broke out on board ship, and the aid given the immigrants by his employer, Mr. Milne.