The first papers of the collection, dating from the 1830s to 1855, cover William Patton's residence in Missouri and receipts for purchases of enslaved persons. The latter portion of the collection includes papers from related families and kinsmen: Summers, Renfro. and Pryor Plank.

The Reed family were longtime farmers in Randolph County, Missouri. This collection contains materials regarding the T.B. (Thomas Black) Reed family, as well as material from Reed's extended family, which was well known in Randolph County and surrounding areas. This collection includes manuscript volumes, photo albums, newspaper clippings, photographs, letters and two atlases.