The Speer Family papers represent four generations of that family, with the bulk of material attributed to the last two generations, especially Robert Elliott Speer and his wife and three of his five children: Emma Bailey, Elliott, Margaret Bailey, and William Speer. The family was active in the Presbyterian Church, serving that institution in a variety of different capacities. The children, in addition to their religious roles, held prominent positions in academic administration. The family's papers primarily consist of the personal papers of the family, although they also contain the professional correspondence of Emma Bailey and Margaret Bailey Speer, both Bryn Mawr College alumnae. This collection, which dates from 1802 to 1982, contains letters, diaries, speeches, publications, awards, and photographs, although the vast majority of the material is the letters between family members.
Besides serving as the twenty-eighth president of the United States from 1913-1921 Woodrow Wilson was a member of the original faculty of Bryn Mawr College from 1885-1888. Papers on file at Bryn Mawr College about Woodrow Wilson include material about the 1956 celebration at Bryn Mawr College of Wilson's Centennial as well as miscellaneous materials collected from various sources.