The collection consists primarily of letters and documents of American and French historical figures of the Revolutionary War period. The collection also contains an autograph album of 19th century American politicians and writers, as well as several English manuscripts. Included are two autograph letters (1781) by George Washington to the Marquis de Chastellux, written at the start of the Yorktown campaign; an autograph letter (1778) by Silas Deane from Paris, with documents listing his accounts charged to the United States for services and supplies purchased on its behalf; an autograph letter (1851) by Charles Dickens to an American friend recalling a previous visit to the United States; and 53 letters (1867-1871) by Burr Kellogg, an American working with an English theatrical touring company, while on a trip around the world with stops in such places as Australia, India, Italy, and Japan. Printed items consist of a Quaker broadside (1769), a copy of The Providence Gazette (1783) regarding Count de Grasse, a copy of Gazette de France (1779), and a circular letter (1875) with a photograph regarding the kidnapping of four-year-old Charles Brewster Ross.