The Papers consist of correspondence; speeches; articles; materials documenting organizations, e.g. financial records, minutes, reports, and convention materials; and other documents concerned with the growth of pharmacy as a major study and career field. They cover a fifty year period. The collection has been divided into two main sections: correspondence, and a subject file.
The correspondence (1899-1957) includes Lyman's exchanges of letters with students, faculty members at the University of Nebraska and other universities, contributors and subscribers to the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, officers of national pharmaceutical organizations and societies, and friends and family. The file has been further divided into two segments: general correspondence, and specific correspondence, determined by the number of letters of an individual's correspondence with Lyman. If less than twenty-five letters of an individual's correspondence with Lyman have been preserved in the Papers, they will be filed under general correspondence. If more than twenty-five letters are included in the Papers, they will be found in the specific correspondence file. Each of the files is arranged alphabetically by correspondent, and chronologically thereunder. Lyman corresponded with key pharmaceutical and other well-known figures of his day. Of note are two letters (19 February 1921; 25 March 1921) from William Jennings Bryan to Lyman re Bryan's donation to benevolences to West Minster Church of Lincoln, Nebraska [Box 2, Folder 6].
The subject file of the Lyman Papers deals with alcohol, artifacts, class outlines and course schedules, general information on colleges of pharmacy, constitutions of organizations, lists of faculty publications, selective service, speeches by Lyman and others, testimonials and vitae; but mainly contains a section of materials relating to the various pharmaceutical and university organizations with which Lyman was associated. The arrangement of these materials is alphabetical by subject. Under each subject the papers may be in an alphabetical or chronological sequence, or both. The categories are not large, and are generally self-explanatory as listed on the Container List which follows.
The organization segment of the subject file includes minutes, financial records, memos and directives, reports, subscription lists, bulletins and newsletters, convention agenda, student rosters, exams, information on courses offered, and miscellaneous items.
The speeches of Lyman and others in the field of pharmacy are listed alphabetically by surname of author. There is also one folder of speeches, the authors of which can not be identified.
