Alexander Boyle taught in the design department at the University of Kansas from 1953-1992. The collection includes items in various stages of creation and reproduction from Boyle's art. Boyle's focuses were birds in wildlife, traditional Aztec/Mesoamerican art, and buildings on the campus of the University of Kansas. His works depicting the Campanile and old Fraser Hall are included.

This collection consists of one watercolor painting of multiple birds called ruffs. The painting was created by M.H.A. Staring (1897-1929), a Dutch artist and ornithologist whose specialty was depicting zoological subjects.