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Court case papers, 1802-1913, and county record books, 1830-1905; included are records for retail merchandising, 1884-1894, in Jefferson County. A partial name and subject index to the case papers and a checklist of the bound volumes are available.

Clippings and programs regarding history of the Old Opera House in Charles Town, West Virginia.

Clippings and illustrations regarding abolitionist and activist John Brown, who led a raid on Harper's Ferry in 1859, precipitating the American Civil War. Includes: 1) facsimile of a page of the newspaper "Independent Democrat" of Charlestown, Virginia from 10-25-1859 including article giving an account of the raid by John Brown; 2) facsimile of a page of the newspaper "Daily Enquirer" of Richmond, Virginia from 11-21-1859 including copy of Brown's petition for a writ of error in his trial; 3) original copy of pages from "Frank Leslie's" illustrated newspaper from 12-10-1859 featuring article of final interviews with John Brown and an illustration of John Brown's execution; 4) photocopy of pages from "Harper's Weekly" from 1909 featuring article titled "How Patrick Higgins Met John Brown, His Story of What He Saw of the Raid on Harper's Ferry", October 16, 1859". Also includes two small undated newspaper clippings of images of "John Brown's House on Franklin Street", and of Brown's "Wool Warehouse on Railroad Row"; and two small undated magazine clippings of images of the schoolhouse John Brown used as an arsenal, and of insurgents thrown off a bridge at Harper's Ferry.

A ledger and financial records of Logan Osborne (1836-39) also containing the will of Balamm Osborne. The ledger contains accounts of an assortment of general store goods from perishables such as food and candles to durable goods such as tools and carriages. There are Osborne family deeds, land contracts and letters about family matters and debt (1808-89). There are early nineteenth century state bank script from Louisiana, Virginia, and North Carolina. There are land indentures and legal papers from eighteenth century Virginia, mainly of Matthew Rankin and Thomas Rutherford who contended for property in Ohio County. There is the thirty-eight page diary of Cleon Moore, a Confederate soldier from Charles Town. As a volunteer regiment member he was eyewitness and participant in the siege and capture of John Brown at Harpers Ferry. His unit was again called out prior to Virginia's secession resolution. He recounts their early maneuvering, stationing and being consolidated in the Virginia Second Cavalry which served at the First Battle of Bull Run. The account ends with the early 1862 campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley of General "Stonewall" Jackson. There is Civil War related material of Logan Osborne including records of loans to the Confederate government, letters to family and friends recounting and justifying the events and cause of the Confederacy and an 1861 January 28 broadside, entitled: "To The People of Jefferson County...", of Logan Osborne as a Unionist candidate to the Virginia Secession Convention. Also there are early West Virginia political papers pertaining to Jefferson County such as an attempt to move the county seat to Sheperdstown. Also included are George Shutt business letters and certificates as a geologist; certificates from the United Daughters of the Confederacy to Mary M. Shutt; and Osborne family history, genealogy and obituaries of descendents.

Four account books of financial, medical and farm records of the Springdale Farm of Shepherdstown, Jefferson County, West Virginia, kept by Martha Banks and doctors I.S. Tanner and George Washington Banks. Account book, 1855-1867, records payments made on accounts. It is organized according to date and lists the name of the customer and receipt of payment. Account book 1858-1866 also documents payments made on accounts, but it is organized in alphabetical order. The farm account book of Martha Banks dates from 1897 to 1905. Several pages document wheat sold or taken to a mill in the late 1890s. It also contains notes from 1899 related to the estate of George Washington Banks, including a detailed list of his personal property. A physician's account book from 1841 to 1845 chiefly list patients treated and cost, but also includes several pages of notes regarding treatments and observations of the physician. Original ledgers are in fragile condition; they are also available on microfilm.

Five court documents from Frederick County, Maryland, and Jefferson County, Virginia, mostly regarding slavery and manumission. They consist of: declaration by Christian Kemp of the removal of Negro Joseph from Berkeley County, Virginia to Frederick County, Maryland (January 13, 1797); affidavit of Philip Coblentz affirming manumission of Negro Mathew, Frederick County, Maryland (August 20, 1811); deed of bill of sale between William P. Craighill, William Little, Samuel Brown, and Samuel Swayne, for land in Jefferson County, Virginia (1815-1816); affidavit of Sampson Delashmutt affirming children of Mary Swan(n) to be free-born (July 25, 1822), and later statement by Delashmutt that Jacob Swan(n) is a free born son of Mary Swan(n) (October 19, 1822), both of Frederick County, Maryland; and a statement by Mary Swann of her manumission and affidavit of Sampson Delashmutt affirming it, Frederick County, Maryland (December 9, 1829).