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The Alexander Lockhart Nelson Papers consist of materials related to Nelson's life as mathematician at Washington and Lee University; Nelson, Guy, Matthews, Archer, and Rennick family genealogy; an address by Nelson on his teaching experience during Robert E. Lee's presidency of Washington College; some family and miscellaneous correspondences; and photographs. Included and, perhaps, the primary aspect of the collection is Nelson's notebook used during his time as both student and professor of mathematics during the mid through late 19th century. The notebook also contains a range of content unrelated to his career as mathematician such as an extensive family tree, a journal/day book which includes details about weather from December 1880 through March 1881 in Lexington, Va.; a pencil drawing of his property and its improvements in downtown Lexington; and notes about payments made to a hired laborer for his Lexington home and grounds. There is an albumen photograph of a group of young girls of the Ann Smith Academy in Lexington – including an image of Nelson's daughter Evelyn. The collection is in two series – each formerly a unique accession from unique sources and different dates. The collections have recently been combined. Each series includes a control folder explaining its provenance. Series two includes a letter from WLU student Jack C. Desha in 1871 to his father Lucius Desha of Kentucky. In the letter Jack shares his travel experiences from Cincinnatti, Ohio to Lexington, Va., including an overnight visit in Washington DC. Series two also includes student Randolph Preston's (WLU class of 1902)typescript reminiscence of his Washington and Lee University student experience fifty years earlier.

This collection consists of Gaines' correspondence, speeches, photographs, and printed matter, such as programs and newspaper clippings. Also included is Gaines family genealogy.

This collection includes three manuscript novellas written by Henry Ruffner, including a draft of his published work titled "Judith Bensaddi," six sermons written in Ruffner's hand, Washington College student James S. Richeson's handwritten transcript of one of Ruffner's lectures on "Political Economy"(1840), a typescript copy of Ruffner's 1847 pamphlet regarding slavery in Virginia, an 1867 letter relating to Ruffner's estate by his widow, Laura Ruffner, and Ruffner's bound manuscript for the "History of Washington College" (circa 1857). This volume includes notes by Ruffner's son.

This collection includes correspondence, legal lecture notebooks, speeches, photographs, and ephemeral items (some political) associated with the Tucker family of Virginia. The bulk of the collection relates to the lives and work of John Randolph Tucker (1823-1897) and his son, Henry St. George "Harry" Tucker (1853-1932). Items associated with Washington and Lee University, Tulane University, and Newcomb College are also in the collection. Several files contain pages from the "Johnston Scrapbook." It isn't clear when the scrapbook was created but materials within include original documents and photographs as well as news clippings. There is also correspondence associated with Martha Sharpe Tucker, the second wife of Henry St. George "Harry" Tucker.

Includes letters from the American Civil War period; correspondence of Wilson while he was Congressman from West Virginia, Postmaster General under Cleveland, and President of Washington and Lee University; 3 bound, indexed volumes (not orginals) of Wilson's official correspondence as Postmaster General; 6 diaries; miscellaneous papers and printed speeches; 38 letters from the University of West Virginia collection (microfilm); photograph; correspondence with Isidor Straus concerning politics and events at Washington and Lee; 4 letters dated 1874-1875 from J.A. Lapham to her sister, Amelia H. Scorah. Includes three manuscript diaries, 1862-1863, which were written while Wilson was serving in the 12th Virginia Cavalry. Also includes reviews of books about Wilson, correspondence about Wilson by his biographers and descendants, genealogy information on Wilson's mother, and eight photocopied letters from Wilson to Waitman Barbe dated 1891-1899.Other correspondents include Edward Atkinson, William Campbell Preston Breckinridge, James B. Bryce, Fitzhugh Lee, Thomas Nelson Page, William E. Russell, Isidor Straus, Henry St. George Tucker.