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An artificial collection of papers created from material acquired during the 1930's and 1940's. Mostly letters, financial records, published material and official records of individuals in Virginia and elsewhere. Includes documents and signatures of well known people, such as Benjamin Harrison, John Randolph and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

A letter from M. (possibly Margaret) E. Griffin to her cousin John Davis. In the letter, Griffin asks Davis to hire out or sell all of the enslaved people working on the plantation she inherited. She mentions that an enslaved man by the name of Henry struck her son Jordan, and left the plantation to go to Lynchburg without permission. Griffin states that Henry has been "increasing in insolence, till his presence can no longer be endured."

Ledger, 1819-1837, of an unidentified merchant, including notes concerning the birth of a Black child and the documenting the cost of enslaving individuals.

Papers (including business and personal correspondence and accounts) of William H.E. Merritt, of Brunswick and Greensville counties, Va. who was a lawyer, member of the Virginia House of Delegates and editor of the "Richmond Whigquot;and his brothers Dr. Alexander T.B. Merritt of Hicksford, Greensville County,Va. and John F.W. Merritt of Vicksburg, Miss. The collection includes letters, 8 January and 29 March 1857, written by John Minor Botts and accounts of William H.E. Merritt Brother with Cuddy, Brown Co., cotton brokers in New Orleans, La. Subjects covered by the collection include horses, the practice of law, Reconstruction, and slavery.

Collection contains account journals, some papers and other items of James M. Nicolson, a general merchant in Gloucester County, Virginia (1802-1869), an account book kept by Nicolson and Capt. John L. Hibble as Assistant Quarter Masters of the 26th Virginia Regiment, 1861-1864 (discusses slaves labors); a letter book of H. Yeatman & Co., merchants of Gloucester Court House, 1869-1870, which also contains some of Nicolson's correspondence; and ledger accounts, 1892-1899, for farming at 'Severn Hall', Gloucester County, Va. Includes a list of slaves hired out on 23 Dec. 1802.

Account by Henry Cooke, who had escaped his enslavement by Robert C. Nicholas, of a Gospel Meetings in Louisiana, led by William Ellis, another enslaved person, of Virginia. Title, "The Gospel as preached in the South."

Papers, 1840-1883, of members of the Wier and McCully families. Includes correspondence of Peter Wier of Gainesville, Ala., Armistead Wier of Danville, Va., John McCully of Bridgeport, Conn., James McCully, Petersburg, Va. and William McCully of Newark, N. J.