German-born entomologist, musician and teacher, Christian Zimmermann came to Philadelphia in 1832, soon moved to South Carolina, then back to Philadelphia and finally finished his life in South Carolina. From his student days in Halle, he maintained an active correspondence with zoologists, visited and collected with many Coleopterists in America, i. e. Melsheimer, Ziegler and Morris. Elected correspondent of the Academy in 1836.

The papers consist of a diary and workbook, bound in one volume, and three volumes of transcripts of published articles on Coleoptera. With the diary, 1811-1843 are genealogical and autobiographical notes. His excursions, visits to naturalists and letters are all listed in his daily entries. Copies of records of his insect collections, excerpts from published articles written by other coleopterists, identification keys and check lists of insects, with transcripts of some letters written and additions to his library are contained in his workbook. Both the diary and the workbook are written in German script. Microfilm of diary available

A description of the Diary and Workbook was published by H. A. Hagen, Can. Ent., v. 21, 1889, p. 53-57, 71-73.