Miles J. Willard was a prominent engineer and scientist in Idaho notable for being involved with the invention of potato flakes. Materials in the collection include family photographs, photographs from food science work including of potato flakes, scrapbooks, professional notes, and correspondence. The correspondence primarily involves Willard's time in the military during World War II where he was involved in the Manhattan Project. He received many awards from the state of Idaho and from the University of Idaho which are also reflected in the collection. Other materials document Willard's interest in genealogy, photography, and music.