The Farmer's Loan & Trust Company series is comprised of correspondence and statements flowing into the Lawrence office of the farm mortgage company from the London-based banking institution. The series spans the years 1886 to 1932, the era of Watkins' debenture bond enterprise.

The series contains the Trust Company's correspondence sent to Lawrence, as well as monthly statements of collections and expenses. All materials are arranged chronologically and the documents are separated from the general correspondence.

Mortgage papers and accompanying documents that certified they were free from irregularities in title were submitted to the trust company from the Lawrence office. Upon approval, five-year debenture bonds were issued against them. When the amount of securities behind them reached $100,000, the debenture series was closed and a new one begun. Under the terms of the agreement between the Trust Company and the Mortgage Company, the $100,000 amount was to be valued at no more than 40% of the mortgaged real estate. The bonds were fully guaranteed regardless of the transactions between the mortgagee and the mortgage company.

These materials chart the flow of investment capital in the company as well as offering insights into the relatively complicated procedures involved in selling debenture bonds. The Farmer's Loan & Trust Company provided financial backing in other Watkins' endeavors as well.