Consists of selected holograph and typescript manuscripts of nonfiction, lectures, essays, poetry, translations, and paraphrases of Williams (Princeton Class of 1875), as well as correspondence and documents pertaining to him, correspondence of other persons, and some of works in print. Published manuscripts included in the collection are The Cliosophic Society, Princeton University (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1916), In Many Woods (Indianapolis: The Hollenbeck Press, 1910), The Return of the Prodigal: A Monodrama (Chicago: Toby Rubovitz, 1912 [private printing]), and Selections from Lucian (Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 1896). There are 39 shorter works--articles, essays, lecture notes--and much unpublished poetry.

Correspondents include Woodrow Wilson, members of the Class of 1875 on the occasion of its 50th reunion, and members of the Western Association of Princeton Clubs, and there is also a letterbook of business letters (1890-1909) of the Associated Press in which Williams was active. Papers of other persons of note include letters of Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, William T. Sherman, Benjamin Harrison, Ulysses S. Grant, and William Henry Smith, Williams' father-in-law, and there is a small collection of autographs of mostly American historical and political figures.