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The Wilkinson Family papers consist of Sarah Kirk Wilkinson's day books, a few of her son Francis' school papers, and assorted Wilkinson correspondence. There are also two diaries from Unionville, Pennsylvania, unsigned, which most likely belonged to Quaker relatives. The Sherwood Farm papers include: Woodlawn Farmer's Club correspondence, describing various social activities of the Quaker farmers and their families from the area; Woodlawn Horse Company correspondence, which includes the constitution and by-laws of this anti-horse theft organization; Woodlawn Housekeeping Association correspondence, constitution, by-laws and minutes; records from the Woodlawn Literary Association; Sherwood Hall Sunday School records; and blank Sherwood Farm Dairy Records showing how the milk production was recorded and sold from 1918-1940. There is also a newspaper article from the Sunday Star in 1905, describing Quaker families and history in this area.

The diary begins on the date of Federal occupation of Alexandria by Union troops, May 24, 1861. Entries describe events related to the Civil War, the occupying troops, and attitudes of the local populace. There is rich detail regarding personnel of the ever-changing occupying force, its disruption of local affairs, and response of the citizens. Local and national events such as major battles, skirmishes, and political occurrences are vividly described. References to persons important to the history of Alexandria and the country for that period are frequent. Sectional opinion of the period toward issues such as slavery, contrabands, and emancipation are also present. Relevant newspaper clippings cut by Whittington are included in Folio 3. The diary ends on April 22, 1865.

The letters in this collection center around the children and family of Edward Ford Sangster (1802-1883) an Alexandria resident, and his wife Mary Kendall Lee of the Ditchly Lees. Their children; John ( Jack ), Tom, James ( Jim ), Virginia Lee ( sister ) and Mary Edward ( "Puss" ) are all represented in the correspondence. William Wallace Bennett was the fiance, and later, husband of Virginia Lee. Many of Bennett's earlier letters deal with church matters and his impending marriage to Virginia Lee. There are a number of Civil War letters in the collection. A letter dated 1866 to Bennett and several other ministers from Varina Davis on behalf of her imprisoned husband is also included. There are several letters involving Daniel and F.E. Lee, and Sally Ford, all of whom were Sangster cousins. The University Account Book of John Sangster, dated 1856-1859 and listing expenses, weather and classes is placed in a separate series.

The 1853-1854 diary documents the intimate details of Carne's daily life, and includes scraps of paper dated 50 years later (1903-1904), which at times seem to comment upon those earlier events.