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Most of these papers pertain to Samuel Woods, lawyer, Confederate captain, and later West Virginia supreme court judge, from Philippi, and his son, Samuel Van Horn Woods, (1856-1937), lawyer, politician and president of the State Senate. The papers cover Samuel Wood terms as instructor at Monongalia Academy, 1845-1849; his part in the Virginia Convention of 1861; his view on union and secession; and the plight of a Secessionist family in a town under Federal control. Other Civil War letters deal with politics in Philippi (many of which are authored by Isabella Woods); and camp life in the Army of Northern Virginia around Verdon, Richmond and Waynesboro. A few letters concern Woods and his role in the West Virginia Constitutional Convention, 1872; legal affairs; and family concerns. The papers of Samuel Van Horn touch on college life at West Virginia University; family history and genealogy, civic affairs and politics. One folder of material relates to the A. G. Dayton family and particularly to his race with W. L. Wilson in 1894. One folder contains letters (1824-1830) from Daniel Nesson in Ireland to his brother John Nesson in New York. John Nesson was Isabella Wood's father, Samuel Wood's father-in-law, who lived in New York. The remainder of the collection contains miscellaneous newspaper clippings and family items. For a detailed description see the inventory sheet. A detailed paper guide to this collection can be found in the control folder for A&M 0052. An electronic copy of the same guide is available through a curator at the History Center.