The collection includes Girard's diaries, certificates, military appointments, travel orders, sketchbooks, photographs, passports and newspaper clippings. The sketchbooks contain sketches of western landscapes and European landscapes. The photographs in the collection are of J. B. Girard, his family, and family friends.

Joseph Basil (J. B.) Girard emigrated from France to the United States in 1861, at the age of fifteen. In 1867 he graduated as a doctor of medicine from the University of Michigan; in that same year he received an appointment to the United States Army Medical Corps in which he served until his retirement in 1910 with the rank of lieutenant-colonel and assistant surgeon general. He married Louise Oury in 1875; they had three children, Agnes, Louise, and Laura. Girard was stationed at several army posts throughout his military career. He served in Arizona, Wyoming, Missouri, Hawaii, Nebraska, Georgia, and Washington State. He also served as Chief Surgeon for the Division of the Philippines from 1904-1906 and for the Department of Texas from 1907-1910. He was a member of the Scientific Society of San Antonio and the Arizona Pioneers Historical Society. He was also a skilled amateur artist who produced many pencil sketches and watercolors throughout his life. These sketches and paintings often included western landscapes and scenes of army life at military posts. Girard's work also contains several sketches he did while traveling through Europe. After retirement, J. B. Girard remained in San Antonio where he died in 1918.

In order to quote from, publish, or reproduce any of the manuscripts or visual materials, researchers must obtain formal permission from the office of the Library Director. In most instances, permission is given by the Huntington as owner of the physical property rights only, and researchers must also obtain permission from the holder of the literary rights In some instances, the Huntington owns the literary rights, as well as the physical property rights. Researchers may contact the appropriate curator for further information.

Collection is open to qualified researches by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information please go to following URL.