This series, the bulk of the collection, is arranged chronologically from 1852-1950; miscellaneous and undated materials are stored at the end of the series. It consists mainly of family correspondence, including legal documents and financial records, as well as business records, genealogical information, and information related to family members' teaching careers as well as social, church, and civic matters. The correspondence covers the full range of family concerns.

The business records of Orville A. Torrey, a small time land and mineral right exploiter between 1895-1920 in Kansas and the husband of Eliza May Stewart, are scattered throughout this material.

Also of special interest are the many letters written by farmers' wives that may prove insightful to farming conditions in the 1920s and 1930s.