The photographs in this collection record Ernest Crown's family, farm, and community activities in Smith County, Kansas and his work in the Methodist Church. The first 180 images in the collection were taken by Ernest Crown; the rest, numbered 181-213, were taken by other photographers and are also of the Crown family and farming, as well as rural schools in Smith County. Photographers for these latter images are noted whenever known.

The Rachel Crown papers contain photocopied genealogical charts, family group lists, and photographs of Rachel Crown's Armistead family and Crown family ancestors, who were among the early settlers of Smith County, Kansas. Included also are several photocopies of Rachel Crown's writings, as well as a letter written to her from William Allen White in 1937.