Caroline L. Whiting, known professionally as Caroline Whiting Fellows, received a diploma in illustrative advertising from the New York School of Fine and Applied Art (later, Parsons School of Design) in 1925. The collection consists of two notebooks of hand-written lecture notes, tracings, drawing exercises, and visual research Whiting maintained during her studies.

Lyman Martin (1908-2003) graduated from Parsons School of Design in 1939 and joined Thedlow, an interior decoration firm. At Thedlow, Martin created interiors and watercolor renderings, and designed rugs and murals. In 1969, Martin became president of Thedlow, remaining until its closure in 1979. The collection includes student work, interior drawings, a travel diary, floorplans, photographs, clippings, and exhibition files.