The papers of Thomas H. Macbride consist of approximately eight linear feet of manuscripts (series 1) dating from 1845 to 1954. They are organized alphabetically by format of material, and then chronologically within each format. They document his career as a professor and president of the University of Iowa from 1914 to 1916. The papers also include about eight linear feet of administrative records from the Office of the President of the University (series 2).

Included in series 1 are letters from: Paul Bartsch, Charles E. Bessey, W.R. Boyd, Jay N. Darling, Harvey Ingham, Laurence C. Jones, Frank O. Lowden, G.W. Martin, Louis H. Pammel, Gifford Pinchot, Carl E. Seashore, Fred J. Seaver, Benjamin F. Shambaugh, Bertha M.H. Shambaugh, Bohumil Shimek, John Springer, and Robert B. Wylie.

Macbride's work as botanist is reflected in items in series 1 such as speeches and lectures he delivered, articles he wrote, notebooks he kept, and his Iowa Lakeside Laboratory research. Also included are diaries and newspaper clippings which show his connections with University of Iowa Archives; Philip D. Macbride Papers, University of Washington; and the Nineteenth Century Club and Raphael Club records, State Historical Society of Iowa.

Other family members are represented in the Macbride papers, series 1, such as Harriet D. Macbride's diaries and notebooks, and Jean Macbride's compositions.

Note that this finding aid describes only the personal papers series of the Thomas H. Macbride papers. Not described here but also part of the papers are his presidential correspondence series (8.5 ft.), letters of appreciation volume (0.25 ft.), and publications series (1.0 ft.).