The papers of Daniel Mulford Valentine, a member of the Kansas Legislature and an associate justice of the Kansas Supreme Court from 1868 to 1893, contain his appointment notices, various property records, and writings. His writings include a history of Franklin County in Kansas Territory. Also in the colletion are some photographs and various records of Franklin County land transactions prior to Kansas Statehood.

Mounted newspaper clippings concerning the history of Franklin and Douglas Counties. Two clippings are identified as being from the Lawrence Daily Journal-World, 1927 and 1936.

Three family letters written by Franklin County, Kansas settler Joseph F. Smith in the first year of his arrival in Kansas Territory and in the first two years of Kansas statehood. An emigrant from Iowa, Smith writes to his brother Alvin Smith of Ohio regarding the local weather, crops, prices of provisions, the threat of secessionists, and his hopes for purchase of land from the Native American reserve on which he works in winter months.

Collection of tintypes, cabinet cards, memorial cards, and other mounted photographs of African Americans from Ottawa, Franklin County, Kansas. Many photographs are unidentified or tentatively identified, and very few are dated, but they probably all date from the last half of the 19th century. Photographers are noted in the finding aid when known.

Includes a reproduction of an original photograph of the second schoolhouse built in Princeton, Kansas from 1878. Princeton was established in 1869 with the introduction of the railroad to Franklin County, Kansas.

Ledger of accounts for hardware business Smith and Case Company, organized by Horace J. Smith in Ottawa, Franklin County, Kansas in 1866. The ledger provides documentation about work performed and costs, as well as names of local businesses and indivdiuals with whom the company worked.

Homemade journal of Franklin County, Kansas resident William B. Young. Young and his brother "Ed" held a sheep ranch to the south of Minneoloa. The journal details business expenses from April to June 1864, along with weather conditions and daily happenings of the ranch. Young travels to trade in nearby towns Lawrence, Leavenworth, Prairie City, and Peoria, noting the exchanges in his journal.