The Joseph Lincoln Gillson papers is a small collection that consists of a set of notebooks and related documents from Gillson's time working for the DuPont Company as well as a set of papers and related documents from consulting projects he did during his retirement.

Included are field notes from 1936 from his work in Newfoundland, Canada. There are four photography notebooks, three of which are from his time as chief geologist for the DuPont Company. The photograph notebooks record the film roll number, the date, the location(s), sometimes the lens used, and the subject of photograph. The DuPont era notebooks date from the 1940s and document his travel to California, Philippines, Malyasia, Brazil, India, and Peru. The one notebook from his time as a consultant dates from 1963 and documents his travel to Barcelona and Rome.

The collection does not include the photographs themselves. There are only three photographs in the collection; they are snapshots of Gillson with small groups of people, most of whom are unidentified. Additionally, there are three of Gillson's passports issued in 1951, 1956, and 1960, which contain his portrait.

There are two address books. One is a traditional address book that dates from the 1950s that has sustained some water damage, with some contents illegible. The other address book contains foreign addresses and a section for weights and measures and for expenses; it is dated 1951 to 1953.

The documents related to consulting work pertain to a project Gillson undertook for P.S. "Pete" du Pont (1911-1988). The correspondence consists of letters between du Pont and Gillson in 1962 in which du Pont states that he has invested in the Index Daly Mines Co. Du Pont inquires about hiring Gillson as a geological consultant to survey land in Utah and Nevada beloging to the Index Daly Mines Co. in order to make recommendations as to the soundness of the investment. The papers include early property maps that date from 1915 and 1938 of the mines in Utah. There is also a hand-drawn map of the Index Daly Mines Co. property, although it is undated and unsigned. It is likely from the 1962 project and drawn by Gillson. There is a stockholders report from 1960, purchase orders from 1961 and 1962, and three milling ore profit estimates from 1962. There is a brief history of the Creole Mine at Minersville, Utah, written by Gillson, as well as Gillson's final report back to du Pont. The report is written in letter form; Gillson concludes that du Pont did not need to send a geologist, but rather a lawyer and provides du Pont with several steps to present to his attorney for consideration to protect himself from the investment.