The Booth collection includes personal and professional correspondence, materials related to libraries and librarianship, manuscripts, newspaper clippings, photographs, published books and journal articles, Red Cross memorabilia, and ephemera

Biographical Note: Mary Josephine Booth was born in Beloit, Wisconsin on May 24, 1876. She earned degrees from Beloit College and the University of Illinois Library School, and was later awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Literature from Beloit College. In 1904, Ms. Booth was hired as the third librarian at Eastern Normal School (now Eastern Illinois University); after her retirement in 1945, the campus library building was erected and named in her honor. During her career, she held the offices of treasurer (1913-1915) and president (1915-1915) of the Illinois Library Association. Ms. Booth also served as a Red Cross relief worker during World War I, and held memberships in the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Women's Overseas Service League, and the American Association of University Women. She died in Charleston, Illinois, on January 2, 1965