This series of incoming correspondence and business records represent the most complete chronicle of Watkins' personal and business-related activity. The Lawrence, Kansas, office of J. B. Watkins and Company (1873-1883) and the J. B. Watkins Land Mortgage Company (1883-1939) served as corporate and business headquarters of J. B. Watkins' interests. Through this office passed correspondence reflecting all matters of business from branch offices, Watkins-owned companies, investors, and borrowers. The Lawrence office also housed all company business and financial records.

This series contains business and company correspondence, memoranda, bills and statements that were sent to the Lawrence, Kansas office. Materials created by various departments within the office and all papers and records identified as pertaining to the operation of Lawrence headquarters are also contained in this series.

The bulk of the Lawrence office series is comprised of "incoming" business correspondence dating from 1873 to 1939. This material reflects the daily operation of the land mortgage and management business and features letters from loan applicants, patrons, investors, creditors, company agents, and third parties (land agents, lawyers, and local government officials) who were involved in the mortgage loan business. Also featured in this series are the business and financial reports of branch offices and company managers that J. B. Watkins insisted be submitted directly to him on a periodic basis. These reports are invaluable for the insight they offer into the business, as well as for their personal nature.

The structure of the Lawrence series was altered and reflected the changes in office personnel and operation that occurred sometime during 1924-1925 under the administrative direction of Dick Williams. A purely chronological arrangement of all materials exists through 1926. In 1927-1929, there emerges a subject arrangement of some correspondence within the context of an alphabetical filing system. For these years, materials have been placed in a chronological/subject arrangement. In 1930, the alphabetical/subject filing system of Dick Williams has been reconstructed. Williams, vice president of the Watkins National Bank and business manager for Elizabeth M. Watkins, frequently combined business and personal matters in these correspondence files. This will be reflected for the years 1925-1946 of the Watkins Collection.

The Lawrence series concludes with J. B. Watkins Land Mortgage Company subject-based groups, folders of J. B. Watkins & Company and company records, of business calls, advertising accounts, agents' statements, various business and legal arrangements and contracts, statements of receivers, stock and bond arrangements, and the Watkins Land Company records.

Miscellaneous folders of bills, receipts, and statements are arranged in chronological order.

Prominent features of these business-related subject categories include R. H. Golden, President of the Goodland State Bank; E. O. Luther, Land Agent; R. J. Shetlar, Attorney from Johnson, Kansas; Russell Grain Company; A. C. Allyn & Company and Albert Enamel Company, incorporated; and Dick Williams, the agent and executor of the Watkins estate and the University of Kansas Endowment Association (KUEA).