The papers of John J. Peebles include materials that he used for the recovery of the base line established near Boise in 1899 for the control of topographic surveying in southwestern Idaho, as explained below (Series 1), and materials relating to the Atlantic Steam Shovel (Series 2).

As an historical project in 1976 John J. Peebles tried to relocate the extremities of the base line established near Boise in 1889 for the first topographic surveying in southwestern Idaho. At the same time he wrote the Geological Survey Office offering to report on the conditions of survey marks he happened upon. This record group consists of these reports, triangulation maps, copies of the original field notes, and other material relating to surveying. There is also a small amount of correspondence interspersed among articles and charts.

The majority of the material was in 14 labeled notebooks. Although the material was removed from the notebooks and placed in folders the original heading was retained. The research material and field notes were in four unlabeled notebooks. The maps in folders 24 and 25 were originally rolled and placed in large mailing tubes. These maps are now folded.

The types of material found in the Ada County folder include state plane coordinates from geodetic positions, progress sketches, list of geographic position station names, station descriptions, and recovery notes.

The specific area folders contain reports on condition of survey marks, geodetic control diagrams, horizontal control data, and description of horizontal control stations.

Other materials in Series 1, include articles on the USGS and surveying, correspondence with the Geological Survey, field notes and maps. The books of triangulations and field notes are photocopies of material in the State Historical Library, and probably date from the time of the original surveys.