W.C. Simons' correspondence comprises the bulk of the collection, dating from the 1920s until his death in 1952. This correspondence is incomplete; several years are missing. In some years, Simons separated or had a secretary separate folders for specific family members, or distinguish family correspondence from friends and other personal letters; in other years, all personal correspondence was lumped together in one folder. Correspondence was placed in folders roughly in reverse chronological order; this organization has been maintained. Items out of order within a year/in the wrong year have been refiled to the appropriate month and year, but no attempt has been made to completely sequence chronologically.

Much of the series is copies of Simons' outgoing correspondence; there is also a great deal of incoming correspondnece. Simons signed his letters as W.C.S., family called him "Collie," and other individuals writing typically addressed him as "W.C." or "Mr. Simons." Topics in the letters, telegrams, greeting cards, and postcards include the weather, catching up on events and activities with friends and family, dealing with family members' estates and deaths; dealing with real property (Simons appears to have been a landlord of several properties, and/or helped individuals locate properties, in Lawrence) and other private business dealings separate from the newspaper; holidays and birthdays; financial matters; politics; World War II at home and as it affected friends and family going into the war effort, etc. Some of the correspondence in this series may deal with genealogical matters; folders that W.C.S. identified as strictly genealogical in nature have been described separately.

Occasionally correspondents, particularly family members, inserted newspaper clippings, photographs, business cards, and other items with their letters; these items have remained in place in the series.