These papers of Dr. Sylvester B. Prentiss, an early Lawrence, Kansas settler, contain handwritten autobiographical and biographical sketches of Dr. Prentiss and his second wife, Mary (Converse) Prentiss, as well as a portrait of Dr. Prentiss. Also included are news articles featuring reminiscences of early Lawrence and of the Coal Creek Library at Vinland, Kansas by Dr. Prentiss's third wife, Annie (Soule) Prentiss, who emigrated to Lawrence in 1855.