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This collection has three series: the papers of JT Ricketts, of Norris Cummings and of Helen Cummings. The Ricketts series makes up the bulk of the collection. Its main focus is on Ricketts' business records, but some personal documents are included. The business records contain financial, legal and administrative materials. They trace the rise of T. Wattson & Sons from a small bakery into an industrial "steam" bakery that supplied organizations such as the US Navy with packaged bread products. This development was made possible by the company's purchase of a cracker molding machine patent to mass produce bakery goods. Also found in the Ricketts' series is documentation of the divisive feud between Thomas Wattson and Ricketts and records relating to Ricketts' investments in Pennsylvania coal and timber lands. The Norris Cummings series consists of a few letters, accounts and printed materials. The Helen Cummings series is made up of Ricketts family genealogical materials including a family bible, correspondence to relatives and genealogical organizations and family trees.

This collection consists of letters, notes, business documents, and genealogical research from and on the Shakes, Carne, and Ficklin families. The materials were donated by various uknown donors from 1983-2015 and compiled into a collection created by Alexandria Library's Lloyd House and later Local History/Special Collections branch.

This collection predominantly contains the personal papers of William Gregory, including: journals, notebooks, property records, deeds, and family records. Approximately two-thirds of the collection comprise original correspondence, and late 20th century transcriptions of such.