The Higginbottom Papers, 1844-1971, consist of ca. 13,650 items (ca. 13 shelf feet) relating to activities of the Higginbottom family. The collection contains family correspondence and papers pertaining to missionary activities, the Presbyterian Church, and miscellaneous activities of the Higginbottoms. There are some manuscript drafts, proofs, etc., of various published works and reports by Ethel and Sam Higginbottom.

To 1903 the papers chiefly include family correspondence providing interesting background for understanding the missionary life that the Higginbottom's led. From 1903 to 1945 the papers primarily concern Sam and Ethel's activities as missionaries in India and the development of the agricultural institute at Allahabad. Although this material is peripheral to the main collection (See "Acquisition") it offers fascinating insight into the personal life and attitudes of the Higginbottoms'. Satisfactions and frustrations are chronicled through their letters to one another, members of the family, and friends. There is also some interesting information concerning the relationship between the missionary activity and the emergin nationalist sentiment in India. Higginbottom's activities in fund-raising durign his visits to the United States are thoroughly covered, as are Ethel's activities in the States. The post-1945 material pertains to the activities of Sam and Ethel durign their retirement. These papers reflect their continuing attachment to Indian missionary work. They also document the efforts of Sam Higginbottom to found the Christian Service Training Center at Frostproof, Florida during the 1950s.

Sam Higginbotton (1874-1958) came to American from England in 1894 to attend the Mt. Harmon School in Massachusetts. Influenced by the evangelical work of Dwight Lyman Moody, he went to Amherst in 1899 and Princeton in 1901. While at Princeton, he met George Forman, a missionary from India. Forman convinced Higginbotton to go to India as a Presbyterian missionary in 1903. Higginbotton taught at the Allahabad Christian College and was deeply impressed by the poverty of village life. He assumed a leading role in developing the Naini Leper Asylum and conceived the pioneering idea of founding an agricultural school to improve economic conditions on the sub-continent. Ethel and Sam Higginbottom returned to America several times to raise funds for the Allahabad Agricultual Institute. Such visits occurred during 1909-11, 1914-15, 1919-21, 1932-33. The period of greatest development and fufillment for the school was during the 1920s and 1930s. Such prominent Indians such as Gandhi were fascinated by Higginbottom's ideas for the improvement of Indian life. During various periods Higginbottom advised Indian princes concerning agricultural techniques. Throughout his stay in India, Higginbottom remained in close contact with his associates in the Presbyterian Church. His manifold public appearances in search of funds brought them increasing recognition from leaders of the Church. In 1939 Higginbottom was elected Moderator of the Presbyterian Chruch in America.

Higginbottom retired in 1945 and returned to America settling in Frostproof, Florida. Higginbottom kept in close touch with developments in India until his death. During the 1950s he unsuccessfully tried to establish a Christian Service Training Center to train missionaries for agricultural work. During his lifetime Higginbottom was widely known and respected. His biographer has written that he "embodied the ideal American representative in underdeveloped nations." His life and the work of the Institute have been adequately delineated by Gary R. Hess in (Charlottesville: U. of Virginia Press, 1967).